Aesica Extends Aseptic Facilities to Include Prefilled Syringes Ahead of Market Growth

Aesica, the global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has extended its aseptic capabilities at its Nottingham site with the acquisition of new prefilled syringes manufacturing equipment capable of processing 5000 units/batch.

This latest addition, currently undergoing its validation via process simulation trials, provides Aesica with the ability to service clients across the EU and US markets, opening up the fastest growing area within the pharmaceutical development sector.

Such is the demand within this market that several clients have already started approaching the CDMO to begin discussion for production into clinical trials. The product is seeing huge growth both in the US and Europe, particularly for trials involving proteins and vaccines, as it removes the risk of dosing errors, contamination and needle injuries.

The company has already invested in the specialist technology with the total investment predicted to rise to more than £500,000 on completion of the validation process — due by January 2014.

The prefilled syringes market is currently worth more than £1 billion and growing rapidly; the company’s new equipment also opens up sales opportunities for Aesica to produce more innovative products such as pen and cartridge syringes and nasal devices. During the next 3 years, Aesica is targeting production of 900,000 units and is already in advanced discussions with one company for the scale-up of a clinical trial product for which a joint validation is imminent.

Ian Lafferty, Site Director Nottingham, added: “During the last few years, Aesica has really accelerated its credibility in the aseptic market and prefilled syringes are a natural evolution towards providing a complete product portfolio for our clients, and a reflection of the direction the wider market is heading. Demand is increasing for these products and very few other CDMOs are currently able to supply this in such quantities for clinical trials. Biotechnology companies are already starting to make contact with us and I would envisage a steady uptake across the US and in particular Europe where we are likely to see huge growth rates.”