Expansions in the outsourcing space

Helix to build device making plant in Costa Rico​

Contract medical device manufacturer Helix Medical will build a new facility in Costa Rica under a new plan designed to bring it closer to its customer base.

The firm, which signed a leasing agreement for a site at the Coyol free trade zone and Business Park in Alajuela just outside of San Jose, will invest more than $4m to build the new plant.

The facility, which is expected to employ around 100 people when operational next year, will provide a variety of device manufacturing services ranging from silicone extrusion and moulding to thermoplastic moulding and assembly

General manager Andy Becker explained that: "We chose Costa Rica to be close to our customers in Latin America​," adding that "the country offers a large medical device community with a skilled workforce as well as a good reputation for security and infrastructure.​"

Carbogen adds new stability chambers​

Contract active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) maker Carbogen Amicus has expanded stability testing capacity at its facility in Hunzenschwil, Switzerland citing growing customer demand.

The expansion, which consists of validated stability chambers that comply with current International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines, brings capacity at the facility to around 92sqm.

Carbogen sales manager Brian O’Neill said: "We are facing an increasing customer demand for stability studies, as a stand-alone service or tied to our API development and production efforts.​

Containment at A5’s lab deemed OK for Cat 2 pathogens​

A5 Laboratories has moved a step closer to being able to offer pathogen analysis and development services following its receipt of a letter from Canada’s office Biohazard and Containment Safety.

The document, issued late last week, deemed that a checklist A5 submitted in a bid to gain animal pathogen containment level 2 accreditation for its laboratory facility in Lachine has been deemed acceptable for in vitro studies.

Richard Azazi, the contract research organisation’s (CRO) CEO, said: “This is important news for us toward our capacity of performing tests and analysis in-house​.”

A5 said it is now waiting for another approval from the authorities before being able to begin working with pathogen agents on analysis and development projects