Spray drying specialist and capsule filling service provider Micro-Sphere is investing €3.2 million into expanding its GMP manufacturing capabilities and processes.
 
Micro-Sphere will add an additional spray drying line to its facility in Switzerland in response to increased market demand for spray drying and capsule filling for dry powder inhalers.
 
The new production line, expected to be operational by Q1 2021, is Micro-Sphere’s fifth and will allow the contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) to handle larger quantities of pharmaceutical powders and commercial volumes of finished dosage forms.
 
“Our decision to invest has been fueled by greater demand for spray drying services and we expect it will generate significant benefits for our clients,” said Michael Grassberger, managing director, Micro-Sphere. “Our flexibility is key to our success and this investment allows us to maintain that competitive advantage.”
 
The Swiss facility will also benefit from the introduction of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and ‘Chromeleon’ a Chromatografy Data System (CDS) software to support the QC Lab workflow.
 
Both software systems will bring cost and time savings to the business and streamline process efficiency.
 
“This year we have focused on making the necessary investments to prepare Micro-Sphere for growth in 2019 and beyond,” said Mr. Grassberger. “As well as investing in new machinery to increase our capabilities and expertise, we have also made significant investment into the latest technology. This includes investing in software platforms to ensure the most efficient and robust quality and documentation management systems are in place.”
 
From its GMP, SwissMedic, FDA and PMDA approved facility near Lugano, Micro-Sphere’s expert team supports customers in the U.S., Europe, New Zealand and Asia with spray drying capabilities for the development and manufacture of both potent and non-potent pharmaceutical products, with a focus on inhalable dosage forms.