Pfizer has entered a multi-year collaboration with GSK for the development of a next-gen equipment design, based on Pfizer’s existing portable, continuous, miniature and modular (PCMM) prototype for oral solid dose (OSD) pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.

Pfizer’s current PCMM prototype is an autonomous and transportable pod that can be shipped from location to location and readily brought online to create a fully functional module that is GMP compliant.

Together with GSK, Pfizer will conduct coordinated experiments to create the next-gen design of its current PCMM prototype. This collaboration expands upon Pfizer’s existing collaboration with GEA and G-CON Manufacturing, which resulted in the design of the current prototype unit currently used at Pfizer’s labs in Groton, CT.

“Pfizer’s success in building a first-of-a-kind, transportable, modular prototype for oral solid dose pharmaceutical development and manufacturing holds promise to help transform industry practices, and we invite other organizations to join us in this effort,” said Rod MacKenzie, senior vice president, Pharma Therapeutics R&D at Pfizer. “We believe coupling Pfizer’s industry-leading development and manufacturing capabilities with GSK’s experience and expertise in continuous processing has the potential to lead to a superior technology, thereby allowing us to more quickly and efficiently bring therapies to patients.”

“GSK is pursuing a strategy to enhance our manufacturing supply chains and drive access to medicines for patients. Continuous manufacturing is a key part of that strategy,” said Mark Buswell, vice president and head of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at GSK. “This strategic collaboration allows Pfizer and GSK to align on a vision for PCMM-OSD equipment designs and enables us to deploy flexible, agile and reliable manufacturing solutions to benefit patients.”