1,200 m² Aachen facility will enable largest global HPL output with 20,000L annual GMP capacity and secure dual-source strategy

PL BioScience has announced the opening of a new 1,200 m² facility at its headquarters in Aachen, Germany, significantly expanding its production capacity and global output of Human Platelet Lysate (HPL) for animal-free cell culture applications.

The new site provides a large-scale production and innovation hub for the company, which specialises in developing HPL products for cell expansion in research and clinical settings. With the addition of this new facility, PL BioScience will be able to produce up to 20,000 litres of GMP-grade HPL annually, making it the largest HPL producer globally.

“This is a major step forward for PL BioScience,” said Dr Hatim Hemeda, CEO of the company. “With the new headquarters, we are accelerating our growth and strengthening our future production capabilities in response to growing global demand for HPL products. In addition, this expansion marks a significant step toward accelerating product innovation, including the further development of our new artificial HPL, the world’s first scalable, fully lab-made HPL solution.”

The expanded site will support the company’s dual-source strategy for HPL manufacturing, offering enhanced supply security and operational resilience. Combined with the existing production site, PL BioScience is the first company in the HPL industry to implement a two-source GMP model.

In addition to production capabilities, the new facility will support advanced R&D activities focused on next-generation HPL media. This includes artificial HPL produced from lab-grown platelets using a proprietary process, offering the potential for an unlimited and consistent supply of high-quality, animal-free supplement. Other innovations in development include specialised formulations for applications such as CAR-T cell manufacturing.

PL BioScience will relocate its operations to the new headquarters in September 2025, bringing production, research and organisational teams together under one roof as part of its long-term growth strategy.

About human platelet lysate

HPL is a human-derived, xeno-free supplement used to promote cell growth and expansion in stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and advanced cell therapies. It is typically produced from human platelets that are no longer suitable for transfusion and would otherwise be discarded. HPL provides essential growth factors and nutrients while eliminating the variability and ethical concerns associated with animal-derived supplements such as fetal bovine serum.

Compared to conventional alternatives, HPL offers greater batch-to-batch consistency, is free from animal-origin pathogens, and supports the shift toward animal-free, ethically aligned laboratory practices.

PL BioScience’s ELAREM product line includes a range of natural and artificial HPL supplements for use in research and GMP-compliant cell therapy manufacturing.