AstraZeneca Opens New Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Rockville, Signaling Major Boost to Maryland’s Biotech Economy

ROCKVILLE, MD — In a strategic expansion of its advanced therapy capabilities, AstraZeneca held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil a new state-of-the-art cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland. The celebration was met with great excitement garnering attendance from Lt. Governor Aruna Miller and dozens of other local politicians as it signifies a major boost to Maryland’s biotech industry.

The site, which is designed to support both clinical trial supply and eventual global commercial distribution, reinforces Maryland’s growing role as a national hub for cell and gene therapy and AstraZeneca’s commitment to continuing to expand their footprint in the state. Looking around the room at the hundreds of regional collaborators 

Leading the facility is Brian Stamper, Executive Director and General Manager, who BioBuzz was able to interview prior to the official ceremony. Stamper’s deep background in biomanufacturing—from the production floor at Eli Lilly to executive roles at Lonza and Kite Pharma—has shaped the design and operational focus of the Rockville site. His hands-on understanding of manufacturing intricacies and employee engagement will help to transform the new facility into a workplace focused on innovation, resiliency, and patient impact.

Speed, Resilience, and Patient-Centered Design

The Rockville facility has been developed with one priority in mind: enabling the delivery of autologous cell therapies at the pace patients require. In autologous therapy, each product is manufactured specifically for a single patient. That patient is often in a critical condition, awaiting the return of their modified cells. This makes speed and reliability non-negotiable.

The facility is designed for 24/7, year-round operations, eliminating the need for an annual shutdown and ensuring continuous output. In collaboration with general contractor CRB, a life sciences design and construction firm, AstraZeneca embedded operational redundancy and agility into every layer of the facility’s architecture. Systems were engineered to avoid bottlenecks and to deliver high-quality cell therapies quickly, safely, and without compromise.

This emphasis on speed and continuous uptime is embodied in the mantra coined during construction: "Save a Day, Save a Life." It's not just a slogan—it reflects the clinical urgency of the therapies produced and underscores the need for constant readiness. "Every day matters—whether you're building a new facility or executing a patient batch," Stamper emphasized.

This is a slogan embraced by the CRB team as well, who is well known for their expertly crafted coordination and project delivery methodology, ONEsolution™. This is a revolutionary integrated project delivery method that leverages the combined expertise and technical excellence of ONE project team to deliver highly complex, regulated facilities in a safe, lean and collaborative way. 

This facility is one of only a handful worldwide purpose-built to meet the demands of personalized, autologous cell therapies—treatments that must be delivered with precision and urgency. Its patient-centered design, developed in collaboration with CRB, eliminates traditional shutdowns and integrates 24/7 operations to ensure life-saving therapies can reach patients without delay. In doing so, it sets a new global standard for manufacturing agility, scalability, and patient-first innovation in the cell and gene therapy space.

From Innovation to Impact: Patients at the Heart of It All

Attendees got to hear first hand the life-saving impact that these therapies can have for patients. Special guest Andrew Gordon, a multiple myeloma survivor and advocate, was in attendance. For Andrew and many others, the new facility represents more than just bricks and mortar—it symbolizes the potential to change lives and give hope to cancer patients and their loved ones.

“It gives us hope. I mean, it really gives us hope,” said Andrew.

Pam Cheng, Executive Vice President of Global Operations & IT and Chief Sustainability Officer at AstraZeneca, echoed that sentiment, noting, “This moment is filled with pride, progress, and profound promise.”

Global Ambitions for a Bold Pipeline

AstraZeneca has not been shy about its ambitions. With a corporate goal of reaching $80 billion in revenue by 2030, the company sees cell therapy as a key driver of future growth. Rockville is central to that vision.

The new site is not just for clinical trial material—it’s intended to evolve into a global commercial manufacturing hub for autologous cell therapies. According to Stamper, early trial data from AZ’s pipeline has been encouraging, and the Rockville facility is being built with the flexibility and scale to supply markets around the world.

"We're a bold group—we use the phrase 'bold ambition' a lot," Stamper said. 

This global readiness requires a blend of innovation and risk management. As Stamper shared, the company embraces a culture of "bold ambition" but tempers that mindset with carefully calculated execution. In cell therapy, where there’s no product inventory and patients can't wait, this balance of boldness and precision is critical.

Sustainability Embedded from the Ground Up

Sustainability wasn’t an afterthought in Rockville—it was foundational. The facility is targeting LEED Platinum certification, the highest standard in green building. Designed to operate on 100% electric power (with a backup diesel generator for emergencies), the building also features systems for heat recapture and optimized energy use.

This aligns with AstraZeneca’s global commitment to environmental health, recognizing that a healthier planet supports healthier people. The sustainability strategy wasn’t just about compliance—it was about leading by example. As Stamper noted, "One of the first key decisions we made was to go full electric. It's something we're really proud of."

Maryland: A Strategic Bet on Talent and Logistics

The selection of Rockville was no coincidence. Maryland offers an ideal blend of geographic accessibility, life sciences infrastructure, and a deepening biotech talent pool. Its proximity to major airports (DCA, IAD, BWI) ensures that patient-specific cell therapies can be shipped with speed and reliability—a crucial requirement in autologous workflows.

Stamper highlighted Maryland’s collaborative ecosystem, including its partnerships with local government and life sciences organizations like the Maryland Tech Council and BioHub Maryland. These partnerships support both the immediate needs of the new facility and the long-term goal of building a sustainable and diverse biotech workforce.

"One of the aspects of autologous cell therapy is speed," Stamper explained. "Transportation and logistics are critical. Being near major airports was a big part of why we invested here."

Workforce Development and Leadership Pathways

AstraZeneca currently employs more than 5,700 professionals across Maryland and plans to hire hundreds more as the Rockville site ramps up. But rather than rely solely on lateral hiring or poaching talent from peers, AZ is actively shaping the talent landscape.

The company is collaborating with Montgomery College, University of Maryland, and local high schools to influence curriculum and ensure students are trained for real-world roles in biologics and cell therapy. Stamper, who started his own career as a manufacturing technician, is a strong advocate for "tech-to-exec" career pathways, emphasizing that the industry needs to cultivate leadership from the ground up.

A Culture of Boldness and Access

Stamper closed his interview with a call to action for those looking to break into or advance within the life sciences industry: "Be bold." His message underscores AstraZeneca's willingness to engage with emerging talent and nontraditional candidates.

"Don’t be shy about reaching out and expressing interest," Stamper advised. "No one's going to know you’re interested if you don’t speak up."

The company encourages prospective employees to reach out, express interest, and build their networks. In a competitive talent landscape, culture and opportunity are key differentiators—and AstraZeneca is positioning itself to offer both.

For more information on AstraZeneca’s hiring plans or facility capabilities, visit www.astrazeneca.com.