Avara Pharmaceutical Services has signed an agreement to buy Pfizer’s Liscate, Italy sterile manufacturing facility.

“This acquisition is an important component of our strategic plan and expands our services by adding sterile processing capability, which is in very high demand,” said Timothy Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer, Avara.

Avara provides both API formulation and manufacturing, along with secondary formulation, manufacturing and packaging of small molecule drugs, including highly potent compounds. It has secondary manufacturing technologies including granulation, coating, blending, encapsulation, compression and drying of tablets and capsules.

The company now has six sites. Two in the U.S., including the corporate HQ; one in Puerto Rico, one in the UK, one in Ireland and this new additional site in Italy.

“As we celebrate another important milestone, we continue with great confidence to build a pharmaceutical services company with complementary offerings in key regions in this rapidly growing market,” said Mr. Tyson. “Each site has significant professional experience, state-of-the-art capability and a long history of delivering high quality pharmaceuticals that meet or exceed customer expectations and regulatory requirements in every major market around the world.”