Cambrex has unveiled plans to expand research and development capabilities at its site in Paullo, Milan, Italy. The investment will be in the construction of a new 150 square meter R&D laboratory and the recruitment of additional scientists to increase the number of generic APIs in the company’s development portfolio.

The new laboratory will include 14 fume hoods and will combine both chemistry and analytical development capabilities, with the installation of glass lined reactors, as well as analytical instruments including multiple high and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography systems. It is estimated building work will be completed by the end of 2018, allowing installation and validation of the analytical instruments to take place in the first quarter of 2019.

“The generic API industry is growing due to the continued expiry of product patents, which results in the constant flow of new generic entrants to the market,” said Aldo Magnini, managing director, Cambrex Milan. “The new laboratory will increase the number of programs we can be active in at any one time, allowing us to expand our portfolio of generic products.”

Cambrex currently manufactures over 70 generic APIs which are produced to cGMP standards and the Milan site comprises seven production departments, supported by a pilot plant, kilo-scale plant and development and analytical laboratories.