Catalent Pharma Solutions began work to expand its primary packaging capabilities at its clinical facility in Shanghai, China, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.
 
The expansion includes a new automated, high-speed bottling line suitable for capsule and tablet products. The line will increase packaging capacity by up to 100 bottles per minute, and provides for quicker and easier changeover for clinical-scale production. 
 
“Globally, almost 2,000 industry sponsored clinical trials were conducted in the last two years,” commented Roel de Nobel, Catalent’s Vice President, Global Operations, Clinical Supply Services. “Our continued investment in Asia Pacific reflects the importance of, and the continued growth of clinical trials in Asia, driving the need for in-region packaging services.”
 
This expansion follows is in addition to work that’s underway on a new clinical facility outside of Shanghai’s free trade zone (FTZ). The new facility is expected to be completed in early 2019 and will join the company’s existing three clinical packaging facilities in the Asia Pacific region, namely in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao FTZ, Singapore and Kakegawa, Japan.