Ashland Specialty Ingredients has opened a pharmaceutical center of excellence in Wilmington, DE focused on drug development and bioavailability enhancement, expanding the company’s global network of R&D centers. The facility also offers formulation and contract development for solid dispersions and oral solid-dosage forms. For early stage proof-of concept-studies, capabilities include spray drying, hot-melt extrusion and potent-compound processing suites.
 
“A key commitment is to be close to our customers. One way of accomplishing this is by investing in leading-edge facilities and laboratories,” said Luis Fernandez-Moreno, president, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “These investments help drive growth by enabling us to deliver innovative solutions to customers and improve our competitive position. With this facility, we will provide our North American customers with unparalleled expertise and service in enhancing their pharmaceutical formulations.”
 
“R&D dedicated to drug development and bioavailability enhancement is essential to the future success of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry,” said Jim Mish, group vice president, Consumer Specialties, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “Emerging manufacturing processes, such as continuous manufacturing by spray drying or hot-melt extrusion, is one component of this equation. Excipients science is another. At our new center of excellence, we will be combining our expertise in process technology along with our knowledge in materials science to further support the quality, safety and efficiency of oral solid-dosage forms.”
 
Establishing this center of excellence follows the opening of a pharmaceutical center of excellence in Hyderabad, India, earlier this year and a personal care center in Mumbai in 2012. Ashland Specialty Ingredients has 10 centers around the world.