Sterile manufacturing specialist Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services has unveiled a significant surge in demand for its services from US-based biotechnology firms just a year after it expanded its presence into this territory.

The fast-growing contract manufacturing organization (CMO) has picked-up several new clients in North America, which has primarily been driven by companies looking for small scale aseptic manufacturing capabilities to support clinical trials.

Over the same period, Symbiosis has also experienced increased business from mainland Europe and Asia. As a result of increased global demand, the company has grown by around 50% over the last 12 months and increased employee numbers by 35%.

“At the start of 2015, we believed the time was right to focus on the U.S. market as we were beginning to see an increase in funding for biotech firms and a generally more positive investor climate,” said Colin MacKay, chief executive officer, Symbiosis. “Since then, we’ve been able to grow our client-base in the region as a result of our growing reputation, our specialist capabilities and of course our ability to offer rapid access to manufacturing slots that has helped clients meet tight clinical deadlines.

“In order to sustain our high level of service, we have recruited heavily over the last six months in project management and production to ensure we have the right people and skills in place to cope with this ongoing growth and next phase of the company’s development.”

Symbiosis specializes in the sterile fill/finish of biologic and small molecule products into vials for pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug development companies. It focuses on injectables and the aseptic manufacturing of drug products, which are either liquid or lyophilized formulations.

The CMO is currently undertaking a major investment initiative at its sterile filling facility to ensure continued compliance with the latest interpretation of the guidelines by the MHRA.

This latest expansion enables the business to aseptically manufacture and provide lyophilization services at both the clinical stage and for clients with niche licensed commercial products.