PCI Pharma Services is investing in a considerable expansion of its onsite cold chain storage at its Philadelphia site.

An additional 500 pallet spaces have been added, increasing the onsite 2-8°C refrigerated storage at our commercial packaging center of excellence to more than 1,300 pallets. The 450,000 square foot site features contract packaging services for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, ethical pharmaceuticals, medical devices, as well as animal health therapies.

“It has been estimated biologics represent more than 37% of all drugs in pipeline development,” said Ken Richardson, vice president of global engineering, PCI. “That certainly mirrors the trends we are seeing towards growth in parenteral delivery forms and medicines requiring strict end-to-end cold chain logistics. On average, we launch over 50 products a year and a large proportion of those are drugs with needs for end-to-end cold chain.”

PCI’s investment in cold chain infrastructure and parenterals packaging at the Philadelphia site continues a series of investments in this fast-growing market segment. PCI’s European based Hay-on-Wye facility recently announced the installation of a state-of-the-art multipurpose custom engineered parenteral labeling unit manufactured by Marchesini capable of supporting a variety of injectable delivery forms such as vials, syringes, and autoinjectors. PCI’s Rockford, IL site also recently announced installation of cryogenic storage in support of the growing cell and gene therapy market, another market segment requiring strict temperature controlled activities that often range from -140°C to -196°C.

Mr. Richardson said, “We continue to invest considerably in both areas, adding infrastructure to meet growing demand for vial labeling, syringe labeling and assembly, as well as labeling and assembly of autoinjectors and pens, complemented by investing in ample site storage for these medicines needing refrigerated or frozen conditions. We anticipate these needs will increase considerably as these pipeline medicines reach commercialization, in addition to anticipated growth associated with development of biosimilars.”