Part of $1 Billion Investment Strategy, PCI Pharma Services Completes Acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea, Enhancing US Drug Product Manufacturing for Aseptic Filling of Prefilled Syringes & Cartridges
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250501652991/en/
PCI Pharma Services enhances US manufacturing of prefilled syringes & cartridges through acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea.
Additional information regarding this acquisition is available at a dedicated webpage on PCI's website.
The acquisition also adds high potent vial filling with lyophilization, expanding PCI's sterile fill-finish capacity and serving as an expedient entrée into the rapidly emerging oncology modality of high potent antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). In fact, the move places PCI among the few US-based CDMOs capable of filling ADCs – a category the company initially began building toward earlier this year, with a sophisticated new pharmaceutical development lab for potent and non-potent compounds at its manufacturing Center of Excellence in Bedford, NH. The Bedford sterile fill-finish expansion strategy started with a large investment in a purpose-built facility featuring twin lyophilizers and a state-of-the-art large-scale isolator filling line compliant with Annex 1. That facility will be GMP ready this summer; since the plant's 2022 groundbreaking, PCI has methodically developed aseptic-by-design processes as part of its commitment to providing fully isolated high-volume vial filling and lyophilization solutions.
Considering this, the acquisition is a natural next step in PCI's evolution in advanced drug delivery systems like prefilled syringes, cartridges and autoinjectors. Last year, PCI announced investments exceeding $365 million to support the clinical- and commercial-scale final assembly and packaging of drug-device combination products utilizing advanced delivery systems, with an emphasis on injectable formats. Comprising new and expanded infrastructure in both the United States and Europe, the effort bolsters PCI's ability to manage the full lifespan of DDCs, from sterile drug product development and manufacturing through clinical trial supply, product launch and commercialization.
In the United States, the investment includes two new large-scale facilities at PCI's Rockford, Illinois campus. Building upon the company's successful Philadelphia Biotech Center of Excellence, the facilities will house over 25 dedicated suites with high-speed, multiformat lines for clinical- and commercial-scale assembly and packaging of prefilled syringes, autoinjectors, vials and pen-cartridge combinations, and incorporate extensive ISO-standard product testing capabilities and premium top-load cartoning technology. The campus also comprises capabilities for low- to medium-volume DDC assembly and packaging. Both facilities will be GMP ready in fall 2025.
In Europe, PCI recently acquired a packaging and device assembly facility in Dundalk, Ireland, which provides commercial-scale operations for injectables and oral solid dose products. At its City North Dublin campus, PCI also expanded and constructed a 120,000-sq-ft packaging and device assembly services facility, which is slated to commence operations in summer 2025.
Elsewhere in Europe, as part of an additional $25 million investment in its Leon, Spain facility, PCI is currently incorporating a sophisticated new high-speed filling line for syringes and cartridges. Equipped with isolator technology, the automated line delivers unsurpassed flexibility and reliability for biopharma customers. The effort also includes a recently completed state-of-the-art biologics development lab, further enhancing PCI's upstream capabilities.
Assisted by the Althea acquisition, PCI's goal is to be among the first CDMOs to bring the whole lifespan of advanced drug delivery and drug-device combination products under one corporate roof – a journey spanning PCI's clinical trial supply network with cold chain storage solutions straight through launch and commercialization.
'Our pharma customers and the healthcare personnel and patients they serve are the heartbeat behind each stride we've made throughout this ambitious investment plan in sterile fill-finish and advanced drug delivery solutions,' said Salim Haffar, CEO of PCI Pharma Services. 'Concerning this latest step, Ajinomoto Althea enjoys a longstanding, well-earned reputation for producing novel biologics in various injectable formats. Welcoming Althea's talented professionals into the PCI family strengthens our commitment to turnkey customer partnerships and, ultimately, our dedication to helping improve patient outcomes through life-changing therapies.'
About PCI Pharma Services
PCI is a world-leading CDMO, providing clients with integrated end-to-end drug development, manufacturing and packaging capabilities that increase their products' speed to market and opportunities for commercial success. PCI brings the proven experience that comes with more than 90 successful product launches each year and over five decades in the healthcare services business. The company currently has 35 sites across seven countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain and Australia), and over 8,000 employees working to bring life-changing therapies to patients.
Leading technology and continued investment enable PCI Pharma Services to address global drug development needs throughout the entire product life cycle – from manufacturing capabilities through the clinical trial supply chain and commercialization. Its clients utilize PCI as an extension of their business, and a collaborative partner with the shared goal of improving patients' lives. For more information, visit pci.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250501652991/en/
PCI Pharma Services
Christopher Dale, Turchette Agency
(973) 227-8080, ext. 116; cdale@turchette.com
© Business Wire, Inc.
Aviso legal :
Este comunicado de imprensa não é um documento produzido pela AFP. A AFP não será responsável por este conteúdo. Para mais informações, por favor entre em contato com as pessoas ou entidades mencionadas no comunicado.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local France
2 days ago
- Local France
Not just Ikea: where you can buy furniture in France
Although Ikea does of course exist in France if you like flat-pack furniture and a cheeky cinnamon bun, there are other options for you to peruse. Maisons du Monde French-owned furniture store Maisons du Monde is a decent option, if you're looking for solid, non-flatpack furniture in a range of different designs. It offers vintage, exotic, classic chic, seaside, modern, country, and industrial styles for whatever type of look you're going for. Be aware that not all products on their website are sold by Maisons du Monde itself and different providers offer different quality. Look for the Maisons du Monde brand to ensure the quality. La Redoute The one-time mail-order homewear catalogue company has transformed over the decades into one of France's leading and well-respected furniture brands. It promises a range of stylish and well-put-together furniture at a price that's not out of reach for many people. And it does clothing, too. Advertisement AM/PM Look out, too, for AM/PM furniture stores, which has stores in major cities across the country and is owned by La Redoute. Think stylish and contemporary. But also premium – it's a touch more expensive than its parent business. Roche Bobois For high-end furniture, this luxury Paris-based store is for you. It works with well-known designers and cultural icons (it recently collaborated with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar) and has a very distinct and sophisticated style. A go-to for anyone looking for something a bit special, and with the funds to pay for it. Alinea Founded in Avignon in 1989, and committed to sustainable and responsible home decoration, Alinea draws its inspiration from the landscapes of its southern birthplace. So, expect things to be a bit more relaxed in style. Habitat From 1960s London to 21st-century France, via liquidation and rebirth. In March this year, a boutique reopened in Paris. By the end of 2025, Habitat will offer its products on the shelves of several 'partner' stores as part of a slow relaunch. It has an online presence, now, so you could Conran your crib from anywhere in France, if you so desire. Conforama This is probably the French equivalent of Ikea, selling mostly flat-pack furniture but also things like sofas and electrical items for a reasonable price. It represents 16 percent of the French market (just behind Ikea on 19 percent and ahead of But on 13 percent) and has stores in most French towns. It offers a delivery service and some stores will also hire out their own vans, at a discount price, between the hours of 12 and 2pm (when drivers are taking their lunch break), so you can take larger items home. But Very similar to Conforama is But which also has a presence in most French towns, usually on the large trading estates on the outskirts. It too sells mostly flatpack furniture at reasonable prices. Advertisement Ikea We know that this article is about alternatives to Ikea, but it does exist as a furniture option in France and offers a good range of affordable furniture and household items. In larger cities the brand is rolling out city centre stores - these allow you to browse all the items, sit on the sofas, test out the desk chairs etc, but they don't actually have a huge warehouse of beds, sofas etc. Instead you pick what you want and then order it online for delivery. The stores themselves still have smaller items to buy though, such as mirrors, picture frames, kitchen utensils and of course 100-pack bags of small candles. The bigger Ikea stores on the outskirts of town allow you to buy large items to take home in your car, although they too have a delivery option. Advertisement JYSK JYSK is similar to Ikea in terms of affordability and Scandinavian roots, so expect lots of natural wood and neutral tones. It has a few dozen stores in France, mostly in the northern half of the country, but it is expanding into the south. You can find clean and unfussy furniture here to fill every room of the house from the bedroom and the dining room to the lounge and even the home office. Kave Home Kave Home is a Spanish company with stores in France. The style is generally Mediterranean with a touch of Nordic and mostly solid wood products. They sell everything from sofas and chairs to dining tables, beds, lighting and home decor. Leroy Merlin Leroy Merlin is better known for home improvements, selling everything from tools and lighting to wall paint and tiles – but they do sell no-fuss mostly bedroom, office and outdoor furniture. You won't find most of the furniture in store, however so will have to rely on online photos and reviews. Check out, too, other DIY outlets like Mr Bricolage. There will be one on the outskirts of most reasonably sized towns. Advertisement Selection M An online store that sells everything from dishware to antique furniture. It's not cheap, but if you have the money and a thing for what those in the know term 'slow deco', and what everyone else might call 'timeless', this might be the place for you. White goods Furniture stores such as Conforama and But also sell the usual array of household electricals and white goods, like fridges, freezers and cookers. You could also seek out a Boulanger store, or a Darty. Or a fnac, or a CDiscount. All have online stores, and deliver. Products bought from any one of these will have the advantage, too, of coming with the right plug for your French home. Local furniture stores The furniture stores listed above may offer good choices and have websites that you can easily browse for products, but don't underestimate the possibility of finding what you need from local magasins de meubles (furniture stores) – which range from the monstrous BHV Marais in Paris to a family owned store in a small town. Many cities in France have furniture warehouses on the outskirts, so it's worth seeking them out. For white goods, watch out for discount outlets, sometimes called 'entrepots'. Second-hand furniture The pre-loved furniture market is very much a thing in France – just ask the people behind Selection M. But you could find bargains aplenty online, by looking at well-known classifieds website leboncoin , for example. But also consider looking out your nearest Emmaus store, where donated goods are sold for charity, or any one of the 'troc' outlets. Then there's brocantes , which sell second-hand/vintage/antique items. There are some brocante stores but also regular market-style events in towns and cities across France that offer a huge range of items from real junk to genuine bargains on old furniture. Vide grenier are more like car-boot sales/yard sales are tend to offer smaller items and not much furniture, but you may also see signs locally for a vide maison or house clearance, which may have some bargains. READ ALSO : Vide grenier and brocante: The written and unwritten rules of France's second-hand sales✎
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Fashion Network
American brand Cotopaxi launches in Portugal
American outdoor clothing and accessories brand Cotopaxi is now available in the Portuguese market. Distributed in the country by the Lisbon-based business CoolAndFunctional, the label launched in multi-brand stores across the country this month. Cotopaxi is now available in the country at select points of sale, such as outdoor and adventure stores, camping, surfing, and even some fashion stores "due to the variety of accessories and backpacks it offers," CoolAndFunctional told The Portuguese business added that, for Cotopaxi's debut in the Portuguese market, it is delivering its Autumn/Winter 2025 collection to retailers, focusing on introducing local consumers to its accessories and backpack lines, which "have contributed to the brand's notoriety today," highlighting the Del Día collection, "which is characterised by the creation of exclusive products, made from recycled fabric scraps, to make for unique pieces and prevent materials from ending up in landfills." After introducing Cotopaxi to the Portuguese market this season, CoolAndFunctional intends to reach more points of sale with its spring-summer 2026 season, adding that "collaborations, initiatives, and events are already planned for the launch of the brand in 2026". Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Cotopaxi is a project by Davis Smith, who was born in the US but grew up in various parts of Latin America, where he witnessed the effects of poverty. In 2014, Smith returned to the US and founded Cotopaxi, recruiting Stephan Jacob and CJ Whittaker as co-founders. Currently, Cotopaxi has over 120 employees and five physical stores in the US. However, the bulk of its business is conducted online. Internationally, in addition to Portugal, the brand is also present in Japan, Spain, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the Middle East. Created with a focus on social responsibility and sustainability, a percentage of the brand's profits go to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports poverty reduction projects. Cotopaxi is the latest innovation to be introduced in Portugal by the Lisbon-based company CoolAndFunctional, which at the beginning of 2024 brought the American sock brand Merge4 to the Portuguese market (as well as Spain and France).
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Fashion Network
American brand Cotopaxi launches in Portugal
American outdoor clothing and accessories brand Cotopaxi is now available in the Portuguese market. Distributed in the country by the Lisbon-based business CoolAndFunctional, the label launched in multi-brand stores across the country this month. Cotopaxi is now available in the country at select points of sale, such as outdoor and adventure stores, camping, surfing, and even some fashion stores "due to the variety of accessories and backpacks it offers," CoolAndFunctional told The Portuguese business added that, for Cotopaxi's debut in the Portuguese market, it is delivering its Autumn/Winter 2025 collection to retailers, focusing on introducing local consumers to its accessories and backpack lines, which "have contributed to the brand's notoriety today," highlighting the Del Día collection, "which is characterised by the creation of exclusive products, made from recycled fabric scraps, to make for unique pieces and prevent materials from ending up in landfills." After introducing Cotopaxi to the Portuguese market this season, CoolAndFunctional intends to reach more points of sale with its spring-summer 2026 season, adding that "collaborations, initiatives, and events are already planned for the launch of the brand in 2026". Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Cotopaxi is a project by Davis Smith, who was born in the US but grew up in various parts of Latin America, where he witnessed the effects of poverty. In 2014, Smith returned to the US and founded Cotopaxi, recruiting Stephan Jacob and CJ Whittaker as co-founders. Currently, Cotopaxi has over 120 employees and five physical stores in the US. However, the bulk of its business is conducted online. Internationally, in addition to Portugal, the brand is also present in Japan, Spain, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the Middle East. Created with a focus on social responsibility and sustainability, a percentage of the brand's profits go to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports poverty reduction projects. Cotopaxi is the latest innovation to be introduced in Portugal by the Lisbon-based company CoolAndFunctional, which at the beginning of 2024 brought the American sock brand Merge4 to the Portuguese market (as well as Spain and France).
