Aphena Pharma Solutions is investing $21 million to expand its Solid Dose Division in Cookeville, TN, with the acquisition of a 500,000-sq.-ft. property, purpose-built for FDA manufacturing and packaging operations.

Aphena began renovations to transform the property into a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical packaging and distribution facility, which will also serve as Aphena’s corporate headquarters. The renovations will be completed by Feb. 1, 2021.

This acquisition, which will add 258,000 square feet to Aphena’s current Cookeville footprint, also represents the company’s expansion into biologics, cold chain storage and third-party logistics distribution.

“This new facility will make Aphena a top contender in the pharmaceutical contract service space, starting with over 12,000 pallets of cold chain storage capacity,” said Eric Allen, Aphena’s EVP of Sales. “Being able to offer turnkey packaging and distribution services for biologic products, plus expanding the current operations with newly innovated bottling and packaging lines, will continue to attract key pharmaceutical customers to the Middle Tennessee area.”

The expansion will allow Aphena to install 24 high-speed bottling lines and eight thermoform blister packaging lines. Also, 200,000-plus sq.-ft. of warehouse space provides a strong foundation for a new, third-party logistics program for current and future customers.

Aphena Pharma Solutions provides contract manufacturing and packaging services for the pharma, biopharma, consumer health and medical device markets. With two separate FDA- and DEA-registered locations in the U.S., Aphena handles solid dose, liquids, gels, creams, ointments, foams, suspensions and lotion-based products.