PCI Pharma Services (PCI), a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced that three new state-of-the-art automated sterile fill-finish machines at its San Diego and Melbourne facilities are now fully operational.

The machinery from Cytiva can be used to fill various sterile medications into vials and syringes for small-to-mid scale client needs. The equipment, paired with PCI’s end-to-end services, accelerates Speed to Study, and decreases the average turnaround time from proposal signing to the injectable product’s distribution, according to the company.

“As the capacity for CDMOs worldwide to take on new projects shrinks, we’re excited to be able to offer integrated sterile fill-finish capabilities, alongside our clinical packaging facilities, to new and existing clients in Melbourne and San Diego,” said Brad Payne, chief operating officer, PCI Pharma Services. “Our increased capacity, stockpile of standardized components, including glass, and technical expertise means we can start running batches as soon as needed. This will cut down on the wait times many pharmaceutical companies are facing and begin to help alleviate the global capacity shortage for sterile drug product and downstream packaging.”

The Microcell Vial Filler and SA25 Aseptic Filling Workcell at PCI’s San Diego facility ensures the delivery of medicines from phase I through phase III, supporting local and global clinical client needs. In addition, a Microcell Vial Filler at Melbourne further enhances the early-stage services offered and brings additional capacity to Australia—the world’s leading phase I environment. These advanced machines expedite the filling process with automation and remove the need for human intervention in a sterile environment, creating compliance advantages over standard equipment.

“There are less barriers to entry to start a clinical trial in Australia, as well as significant cost benefits, and with Melbourne being an especially popular place to conduct phase I trials, we knew we needed to bring this capability and added capacity to the local market,” said Tim Roberts, chief commercial officer, PCI Pharma Services. “In addition, we are then able to take our clients through their lifecycle journeys with the expansions and advanced capabilities in our New Hampshire and Madison campuses.”

Roberts added, “With successful recent inspections at our Bedford facility by the Brazilian (ANVISA) and Japanese (PDMA) regulatory authorities, our global reach to supply life-changing therapies to patients quickly and safely is wider than before.”

PCI recently invested in expansions in Rockford, IL, and Tredegar, Wales, as well as established new facilities in Bedford, NH, and Bridgewater, MA.