Vetter’s first US plant brings it closer to customers
Most observers predict that the US will maintain its position as the key development hub for biologics and biotech drugs, which both require considerable investment to take from the laboratory to the patient.
However, the current drive among innovative pharma firms to reduce in-house manufacturing capacity to cut costs has created demand for contract manufacturers with the specialist skills required to collaborate on early stage development.
Vetter's new plant, the contract manufacturing organisation’s (CMO) first in the US and first outside Germany, is designed with just this demand in mind.
Managing director Peter Soelkner explained that: “Since nearly half of our customer base is located in North America, creating a US facility was the logical next step.”
He added that while other US biotech hubs in Boston and San Francisco had been considered, Chicago’s proximity to a number of key clients and prominent research institutions made it the ideal choice for the new plant.
Soelkner also emphasised the ability to work closely with customers as one of the key advantages of the location explaining that: “For injectable drugs, collaboration early in development is essential.
“What is the most user-friendly injection system for the patient? Should the compound be liquid or freeze-dried and reconstituted? What delivery system would best ensure multinational regulatory approval? Getting the answers right the first time speeds medications to market and to the patients that need them.”
The 24,000sqft facility, which will employ a staff of 50 when fully operational next year, will providing specialist filling services for the manufacture of candidate drug products for projects ranging from preclinical development to Phase IIb clinical trials.
Vetter’s facility in Ravensburg, Germany, at which the firm recently installed six fully automatic production lines, will continue to conduct scale-up and commercial manufacturing operations.
