US contract research and manufacturer Charles River Laboratories has opened its plasmid production facility in the UK to support the development of new cell and gene therapies.

The 16,000-square-foot facility, located at the company’s Alderley Park site in Cheshire, England, was built to rapidly produce “phase-appropriate” plasmid DNA, which is a critical starting material for cell and gene therapy developers, said CRL.

The Alderley Park opening represents CRL’s latest move as it expands its global operations that encompass preclinical research and contract manufacturing. In April, the company shelled out $295 million to acquire contract vivarium services firm Explora BioLabs. San Diego-based Explora provides drug industry customers with contract vivarium operation facilities and management services for early-phase research.