Piramal boosts HPAPI site in Michigan, US

A media spokesperson for the contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) said details on the expansion will be released before the end of next week.

The news comes two days after Piramal announced plans to expand its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing capabilities.

The firm said it will invest $55m (€47m) in pre-existing and new facilities – with 270kl (kilolitre) total capacity – across North America and Asia.

Piramal Pharma Solutions' CEO Vivek Sharma told us the expansion aims to address the future needs of current customers.

“A significant portion of this capacity expansion will go towards meeting the commercialisation needs of our current customers’ late stage pipeline,” ​he said.

“We fully expect our business to grow with these investments,” ​he added.

Upgrades at existing API sites include analytical capabilities, R&D labs, automation and IT systems.

India & UK site expansions​

According to Sharma, the firm expects to increase throughput by up to 40%.

“A large part of this increase comes from the addition of the fourth manufacturing block at our commercial API site in Digwal ​[India], where we expect to launch commercial products for our customers in the next year or two,” ​he told us.

As part of the expansion, the firm will increase development capabilities in Ennore, India with the addition of good manufacturing practice (GMP) kilo labs and a pilot plant.

In addition, Piramal will boost drug substance and product services at its Morpeth, UK-based site, and add high speed lines and automation to its aseptic manufacturing site in Lexington, Kentucky, US.

Piramal said the sites will come on line in the next 12 to 18 months.

The CDMO has API development and manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.