SAFC To Expand Drug Fermentation Capabilities

SAFC will invest $29 million to expand its drug substance capabilities in high-potency biologics at the Sigma-Aldrich facility in Jerusalem, Israel. The site expansion will allow SAFC Pharma to provide process development and cGMP manufacturing for large-scale, high-potency, toxic or hazardous drug substances (large molecule HPAPIs).

The 50,000-sq.-ft. high-potency fermentation expansion will focus on production of secondary metabolites (antibiotic-like molecules), cytotoxins and large-molecule proteins. The project is scheduled for completion in 1Q2009. A 30,000-sq.-ft. area of the new facility will be Biosafety Level 2 compliant—enabling manipulation of human pathogens. Site capabilities include 1,000 and 4,000-liter tank capacities for bacterial and fungal fermentation.

Frank Wicks, SAFC president, said, “This expansion builds on the fermentation track record of our Jerusalem facility while adding significantly to our HPAPI capacity. It is consistent with SAFC’s strategy to extend the range and scope of coverage in niche technologies and APIs for biologics sectors.”