Two new purpose-built facilities built for Almac Group in Northern Ireland to meet growing demand
These expansions cater to the rising demand for commercial manufacturing, packaging, and peptide production, bolstering the operations of its business units, Almac Pharma Services and Almac Sciences.
The first facility, spanning 32,000 square feet, is a custom-built high-volume plant for Almac Pharma Services, significantly amplifying the capacity for commercial manufacturing and packaging of sachet drug product presentations. Equipped with additional manufacturing suites and automated packaging technologies, it also enhances the company's Quality Control (QC) Laboratory Testing capacity.
The second project encompasses a 28,000-square-foot Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, doubling the peptide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing capacity for Almac Sciences. This expansion augments synthesis, purification, and isolation capabilities, aligning with the anticipated demand for clinical development and commercial products.
These expansions mark a milestone in Almac's ongoing global investment program, which has surpassed £400m / $500m since its inception in June 2022. Previous initiatives under this program include the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Commercial Drug Product Partnership, a CDx Development, Manufacturing, and Commercial center, and a drug substance GMP facility.
Graeme McBurney, chief operating officer of Almac Group, said he was proud of the company's continued growth, emphasizing its commitment to delivering excellence to clients and patients worldwide.
Pride in company's continued growth
He said: “Our new peptide API manufacturing facility will significantly grow our portfolio of client APIs and is the latest stage of a wider development and manufacturing expansion initiative for Almac Sciences.”
McBurney highlighted Almac Pharma Services' efforts to enhance its large-scale commercial manufacturing and packaging capabilities, aligning with the increasing demand for tailored solutions to support clients' market growth needs. He emphasized the company's dedication to innovation and expansion, driven by a commitment to reinvesting profits back into the business.
With over 55 years of experience, Almac Group remains dedicated to advancing human health through continuous innovation and expansion. As a privately owned and independent company, it strives to meet the evolving needs of its clients and uphold its reputation as a trusted CDMO partner for the world's leading biopharma companies.
This news comes hot on the heels of last month (February)'s big news that saw Almac Pharma Services, a member of the Almac Group, receive a renewal of The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) Certificate of GMP Compliance for the company’s European facility.
The achievement comes following an in-depth, on-site five-day audit conducted by an HPRA inspector from November 6-10 last year (2023). The certification applies to all labeling, and secondary packaging including specialist ultra-low temperature processing, analytical, and distribution activities performed at the company’s Dundalk, Ireland facility.
