The expansion includes a range of small-scale granulation, separation and milling units that, the US contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) claims, make testing the feasibility of developmental formulations a quicker, more efficient process.
Robert O'Connor, head of the new unit, "With these new capabilities, we are now able to move directly from initial product development into our existing GMP pilot plant for process optimization, clinical supply manufacturing and submission batch production."
Company president Chris Calhoun echoed this, explaining that the expansion “fills a significant unmet need for customers who are seeking a complete range of services from a contract provider.”
The move also marks a change in Norwich’s growth efforts which have, in recent months, focused around building in the drug trial space with the establishment of contract research arm in India.
When that project was announced in April Norwich said that, in addition to providing research services to external client, its parent company, generic drugmaker Alvogen, would also benefit from the clinical capabilities.
This policy inter-organisation cooperation is also likely to extend to the small-scale manufacturing capacity Norwich has added, given that formulation is an import part of any non-branded drugmaker's business.
Further support for this idea comes from comments made by Alvogen CEO Doug Drysdale at the opening of the firm's new complex generics R&D centre in Pine Brook, New Jersey in June.
Drysdale said the centre will help the firm make the most of first-to-file opportunities, adding that: “Our expanded internal capabilities form an important cornerstone of our targeted development strategy.”