German contract development and manufacturing organization Vetter Pharma is developing a new clinical manufacturing facility in Des Plaines, Ill., that is expected to be operational by the end of 2029. The location will be the company's main operations in North America and will deal with aseptic filling, lyophilisation of injectable therapies, formulation, process development, and regulatory services.
The Des Plaines facility, along with Vetter Pharma’s clinical facility in Rankweil, Austria, will enable the company to address the growing development requirements for small-batch injectable formulations of innovative drug candidates that are in early clinical development. The site is expected to generate high-quality employment opportunities for the local community and contribute to economic growth, reports Pharmaceutical Technology.
Vetter Pharma’s planned 160,000-sq.-ft. clinical production facility will focus on aseptic manufacturing. It's under development within the Illinois Science and Technology Park, situated in Des Plaines in the greater Chicago area. Since 2009, the park has been instrumental in the launch of Vetter’s US manufacturing operations.
Following the completion of the new Des Plaines clinical facility, Vetter Pharma plans to relocate its existing clinical operations from Skokie, Illinois, to the new facility. The Skokie site is said to have played a vital role in establishing the company’s US market presence.
The new facility will include a main production area and feature increased capacity for the production of small batches of novel active ingredients, with designated spaces for material preparation, as well as compounding. The facility will also include necessary support infrastructure such as storage and office spaces to create an integrated operational framework.