Aesica is investing $4.7 million in a new high containment facility, significantly extending its current capabilities in the formulation and packaging of liquid and solid dosage forms. The facility will be completed by May 2011 and will enable the company to manufacture potent drugs typically classed as Safebridge category 3. The new facility will also include security measures that will ensure it can manufacture Schedule II controlled drugs such as opiates.

The new high containment unit will be housed in a separate facility at Aesica’s Queenborough site, and will include suites for granulation, tablet and blister packing. Also, HVAC and cleaning facilities will be completely separate from the rest of the company’s facilities to prevent any potential cross-contamination.

Adam Sims, commercial director of Aesica said, “As we continue to consolidate and broaden our service proposition, the addition of the high containment facility has enabled us to add yet another dimension to our offer. The evolution of drug development and the use of more potent compounds has made high containment drug manufacturing a key focus for customers outsourcing their products.”