Cook Pharmica To Expand Bio-Facility

Cook Pharmica, the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing division of Cook Medical, will invest $80 million in an 80,000-sq.-ft. expansion at its existing site in Bloomington, IN. The expansion is expected to add another 200 jobs when completed and fully operational.
   
“We could not be more thrilled with the acceptance we have gained from our customers and everyone involved that has made this expansion possible,” said Jerry Arthur, president of Cook Pharmica. “This expansion, which further diversifies our expansive portfolio of services, marks the dawn of a new era in our company’s growth, and is a testament to Cook’s commitment to contract biopharmaceutical manufacturing.”
   
The plan includes two filling lines and complementary finishing lines, one high-speed syringe filling line and one low to medium-speed vial filling line with lyophilization capacity up to 250 sq. ft. Both lines will feature isolator technology. Construction will begin in mid-2008, with completion planned for early 2010. Additional space of more than 600,000 sq. ft. will remain for potential future expansion.
   
The expansion is aimed at developing and manufacturing mammalian cell culture-based products, as well as offering formulation, filling and finishing services. The facility will expand into aseptically filled parenteral vial and syringe products including simple solutions and diluents, suspensions, vaccines, proteins and biologics. With the addition of this capability, the company will be able to meet clients’ needs from cell development through finished packaging.