Catalent Pharma Solutions will expand its biologics packaging capacity at its Bloomington, Indiana biologics manufacturing facility to bolster clinical and commercial supply. Catalent said the expansion will augment existing capabilities in an aim to meet flexibility requirements and market demand.
Cory Lewis, VP and general manager, Catalent Biologics Drug Product, said in a press release, “The packaging expansion will further enhance our comprehensive end-to-end offering for clinical and commercial customers, complementing the services that Catalent Biologics provides, including cell line development, biologics analytical, biomanufacturing, antibody-drug conjugate development, drug product fill/finish, and clinical supply services.”
The 15,000-square-foot facility will include five new packaging suites and a new quality control laboratory. The expansion will include installation and commissioning of new equipment to be phased throughout the year.
Equipment includes a semi-automated and fully-automated top loading cartoner, an accessorized combination syringe assembly machine, an automated auto-injector assembly machine, and two semi-automatic visual inspection machines.
The assembly machines will help address market growth of these delivery technologies driven by a desire for improved patient compliance and safety.
Catalent’s existing 875,000-square-foot biologics development and manufacturing facility in Bloomington, which it acquired in 2017, recently achieved regulatory approval for its 20th commercial product.
The facility employs 900 staff and it is estimated that the expansion will create 36 new jobs at the site.
Expanding list of investments
Catalent has been investing and expanding in recent years, most recently through strategic investments in the Asia-Pacific region and China, though it also has worked to strengthen manufacturing for commercial and clinical supply in the US.
Most recently, one of Catalent’s facilities near Shanghai, China was reported to be near completion. The company’s expansion at its facility near Shanghai, China is nearing complete and has begun to serve clinical packaging supply. Additionally, the company invested $5m into a drug development center of excellence to focus on preclinical and clinical research. Catalent also expanded its clinical packaging and storing facility in Philidelphia, PA, in a $5.5m investment.