Pharmaceuticals

Almac Group Completes First Stage of GMP API Facility Expansion

Almac Sciences, a member of the Almac Group, has completed the first stage of its GMP API facility expansion in a multi-million-pound investment programme.

An extension to the current API facility situated at Almac Group’s global headquarters in Craigavon, the completed installation hosts an additional 2 x 1000 L Glass Lined Steel Reactors with associated filtration and drying equipment allowing the manufacture of 50 – 100 kg batch API output.

Almac Sciences has grown rapidly over the last five years and this expansion is the latest stage of a multi-million-pound investment programme to support increased client manufacturing demands.  The ongoing investment programme will create manufacturing centres of excellence to support small molecule API production at up to 200 – 300kg scale, as well as increased capacity for peptide API production.

The fully operational facility complements the R&D technology centre opened in 2021 for Almac’s established biocatalysis, flow chemistry and peptides businesses.

Almac has a proven track record and expertise in small molecule and peptide API manufacturing from pre-clinical to commercial scale and has developed long-established relationships from pharma and biotech clients offering comprehensive end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions. The completion of this new facility further demonstrates Almac’s commitment to support increased client demand.

Dr Dan Bayston, Vice President, Small Molecule API, said: “The investment in this new manufacturing facility has been critical to support the increased demand from our clients. As our business grows, we are experiencing an ever-increasing pipeline of projects taking advantage of our integrated offering from development through to manufacture and are delighted that this expansion provides us with a stronger ability to serve our global customer base.”

Active recruitment to fill production technician, engineering and Quality Assurance positions is well underway to support current and future manufacturing demands. These roles are critical for Almac’s continued success with further opportunities for career progression and growth.

The next phase of development is currently underway with further manufacturing and warehousing expansions which will be announced in due course.