Sterling Pharma Solutions, a global CDMO, entered the next phase of a multi-year investment strategy at its site in Dudley, UK. The company is investing £10 million to build and commission new process development laboratories and install additional commercial-scale manufacturing equipment to meet the continued growth in demand for small molecule API manufacturing.
 
The project, scheduled to be completed mid-2022, includes the installation of a 4.5 cubic meter hydrogenator, capable of pressure reactions up to 10 bar, as well as supplemental conical and filter dryers within the existing manufacturing plant. Additionally, new kilo-scale and technology labs will be built in the site’s Material Science Centre. The labs will be equipped to develop commercial-scale processes for customers using biocatalysis, and to enhance capabilities at the recently established flow chemistry center of excellence.
 
“The next phase of our strategic plan is to increase and enhance our capacity to develop and scale up processes for commercial readiness, and is testament to the continued, strong interest that we are seeing in small molecule development,” said Kevin Cook, Chief Executive Officer at Sterling. “Having the capabilities and expertise across a range of advanced technologies is crucial to ensure that Sterling can continue to be an industry-leading partner for API development and manufacturing, and meet the future demands of our customers.”
 
Sterling’s 42-acre site in Dudley, UK opened in 1969 and employs over 550 people to manufacture small molecule APIs from development phase through to commercial supply.