PPD to support biologics, inhalation products at expanded lab

20-Oct-2016 - Last updated on 24-Oct-2016 at 14:33 GMT

The addition enhances PPD's inhalation, small molecule and biopharmaceutical/large molecule analytical testing. (Image: PPD)

PPD has added 4,300 square feet of new laboratory space for analytical testing of biopharmaceuticals and inhalation devices to the company’s Athlone, Ireland-based GMP facility.

The contract research organization (CRO) also provides regulatory services, product licensing, and marketed product support at the now 41,500 square foot facility.

The lab is licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to support investigational medicinal products and marketed products and is certified for quality control of medicinal products, including cell-based assay services for biologics.

“This expansion represents our ongoing investment in the continued growth of our contract research operations in Ireland and around the world,” Jon Denissen, Ph.D., VP, GMP Lab, PPD Laboratories, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.

“Much of the new capacity will be utilized to support biologics and inhalation products, and several advanced analytical instruments and technologies have been added to support our clients’ drug development needs,” he explained.

According to Denissen, the Ireland-based facility enables PDD to partner closely with its clients throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

“At the same time, Ireland offers a business-friendly climate, highly skilled work force … and there is strong support from IDA Ireland, all important factors to ensure the successful future and growth of our business,” Denissen said, adding that the company regulatory evaluates its future expansion plans in Ireland based on client demand.

PPD also has a GMP lab in Middleton, Wisconsin that offers the same services as the company's Athlone lab.

With both of these facilities, PPD employs more than 1,300 people in its global GMP analytical laboratory operations.