In Lithuania, the Science of Biotechnology Has Been Completely Destroyed, We Only Produce Things Invented by Others, In This Case Under Contracts: “Northway Biotech” opened a medical center worth 61 million euros in Vilnius

 

 

It should be clarified that the CRISPR-Cas9 technology was not created by Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys and his team, but by two women who received the Nobel Prize for it. The technology of recombinant proteins was created by the Americans, not by the team of Vladas Algirdas Bumelis. What have we, Lithuanians, created? Silence, only crickets can be heard.

 

“Under the control of scientist and businessman Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, the “Northway Biotech” group of companies opened a 61 million euros Innovative Cell Therapy and Personalized Medicine Center in Vilnius.

 

Supplemented with comments by the President, Prime Minister and V. A. Bumelis

 

A 3,500 sq. m. m area is the third development phase of the biotechnology ecosystem “Bio City” developed by “Northway” – “Bio City III”.

 

The national development bank ILTE provided a loan of 48 million euros for the project, and the remaining part of the investment was allocated by “Northway”.

 

“This is Lithuania’s path to the future,” President Gitanas Nausėda said at the event. “We need all industries, including traditional manufacturing sectors. However, the 21st and 22nd centuries will belong to technologically innovative sectors, which, without a doubt, create huge added value.”

 

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said that the project is another reminder that in the global economy, Lithuania is not just a consumer of technologies developed by others, but also a country that creates innovations.

 

Speaking to journalists before the event, he said that in order to prepare hospitals to operate in emergency situations, it is planned to invest about 300 million euros in their underground infrastructure by 2030.

 

“Kaunas Clinic, Santara Clinic, and the Vilnius University Hospital will soon begin initiating their projects related to our defense,” he said.

 

100 new jobs

 

The center will operate 20 production lines that are independent of each other and meet the requirements of good manufacturing practice (GMP). They will develop and manufacture new generation cell therapies, personalized therapeutic vaccines, and regenerative medicine products, as well as develop 3D human tissue printing technologies.

 

“Modern pharmacy has reached such a level that a cell itself can become a medicine. For example, blood cancer cells are able to pretend to be healthy, so our lymphocytes do not recognize them. In this center, we will slightly modify lymphocytes taken from a patient so that they can recognize and destroy cancer cells. In this way, they will help treat this serious disease and save people’s lives,” said V. A. Bumelis during the ceremony.

 

The production lines will have separate quality control laboratories, clean room systems and infrastructure adapted for highly sensitive cell therapies. This will allow for the simultaneous production of individualized preparations for different patients, control the risk of cross-contamination and ensure traceability of the entire production process.

 

Bio City III is expected to create about 100 highly qualified jobs for specialists in biotechnology, bioengineering, molecular biology and other life sciences.

 

As previously reported by Verslo Žinios, one of the most important areas of activity of the new center will be contract manufacturing of individualized cell therapies. Treatment methods such as CAR-T therapy are already used in university hospitals, but their production scale remains limited.

 

University hospitals usually produce these therapies in small quantities for their patients. Northway aims to offer larger-scale production infrastructure to hospitals, international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research centers.

 

The center will also develop regenerative medicine technologies designed to restore damaged tissues and extend healthy lifespan.

The development will continue until 2028.

 

The new center will be integrated with the nearby Celltechna gene therapy center, operating in the Bio City II complex since 2024. According to the group, such proximity will allow shortening the production chain - from the preparation of genetic material required for therapies to the final cell therapy product.

 

Northway has also built biotechnology production buildings in the Bio City I complex. Once the necessary financing is attracted, it is planned to invest up to 200 million euros in the entire project, and it is planned to fully settle in the Vismaliukai territory by the end of 2028.

 

The Northway group consists of 17 companies operating in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, wellness and investment. The biotechnology cluster operating under the Northway Biotech brand includes seven companies – five in Lithuania and one each in the United Kingdom and the United States.”

 

VŽ 2026 Reader Comment:

 

“Since the entire government rushed to cut the ribbon, maybe Prof. Bumelis will finally be compensated in the same way getting at least some €50m from the state budget? Because the building is beautiful."