Juno Spends Big Bucks on R&D, Even Though Approval Won't Come Until 2018
At Juno Therapeutics Inc.’s manufacturing facility in Bothell, Washington, only one out of 11 incubators was in action on a recent afternoon, gently rocking the soup of cells that are the drugmaker’s cancer-killing therapy, helping them to grow.
The rest of the cellular nurseries in the room, known as bioreactors, weren’t in use -- yet. Juno has invested more than $200 million a year in research and development and created manufacturing capacity far beyond its immediate needs because it’s focusing on the long-term goal of developing a best-in-class treatment, the company says.
Never mind that Juno’s first commercial product isn’t up for approval until the first half of 2018, probably after that of competitor Kite Pharma Inc.
The rest of the cellular nurseries in the room, known as bioreactors, weren’t in use -- yet. Juno has invested more than $200 million a year in research and development and created manufacturing capacity far beyond its immediate needs because it’s focusing on the long-term goal of developing a best-in-class treatment, the company says.
Never mind that Juno’s first commercial product isn’t up for approval until the first half of 2018, probably after that of competitor Kite Pharma Inc.