SAFC Partners with Cherokee

SAFC and Cherokee Pharmaceuticals have entered an exclusive strategic partnership that includes the sourcing, analytical testing, warehousing, packaging and distribution of large-scale raw materials for pharmaceutical manufacturing meeting cGMP quality standards.

The collaboration to co-market and co-sell raw materials for pharmaceutical customers combines SAFC’s global sourcing and production capabilities with Cherokee’s analytical labs, large-scale cGMP manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities. SAFC will be responsible for all product sourcing including processing reagents and excipients from its network of suppliers, and Cherokee will conduct analytical testing, storage, packaging and distribution services.

Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, located in Riverside, PA, has significant storage and expansion capabilities and has a dedicated rail link to potentially serve the Northeast U.S. SAFC will use Cherokee’s cGMP validated site, which can house cooled, frozen and hazardous substances, warehousing and distribution hub for large-scale raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.

SAFC president Gilles Cottier said, “This agreement is a win-win situation, not only for SAFC and Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, but also for our respective customers. In marrying SAFC’s sourcing capabilities, which bring significant cost and quality benefits to the table, with Cherokee Pharmaceuticals expertise in analytical testing and cGMP manufacture and storage, we are providing top level, high-quality resourcing that will support our U.S. customers throughout their respective supply chains, enabling them to both streamline and improve their risk mitigation strategies.”

Murvin Lackey, president of distribution for Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, added, “The core competencies of both companies present a competitive advantage for us and our customers. This strategic partnership allows us to provide an integrated sourcing, distribution process to our customers who seek a secure supply chain.”

SAFC Pharma has also received certification of its highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) conjugation suite at its St. Louis, MO campus, by SafeBridge Consultants, Inc. for the safe handling of potent drug substances. The 600-sq.-ft. suite was designed to support the entire drug development pipeline, from early-stage clinical supplies to kilogram quantities, and expandable to commercial-scale.

“Gaining SafeBridge certification status for our HPAPI conjugation suite provides our customers with complete confidence in our ability to handle their potent compound projects safely and efficiently,” commented David Feldker, SAFC Pharma vice president. “This adds to our already significant experience in the production of HPAPIs, an area in which we continue to see rapid growth as targeted oncology evolves. The suite builds upon 15 years of HPAPI manufacturing experience at SAFC’s Madison, WI site, which is also SafeBridge certified, and upon more than 30 years of experience in conjugation technology at the St. Louis facility.”