Sharp Invests in Multi-Phase Pharma Facility in Wales

Sharp Clinical Services (Sharp), part of UDG Healthcare plc, announced on April 3, 2017, that it has invested GBP9 million (approximately $11.6 million) to fund a new multiple-phase pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facility in Wales, United Kingdom. The Welsh government has invested an additional GBP500,000 (approximately $620,000) into this project.

The investment will be used to acquire and renovate a 110,000-square foot facility within the site in Rhymney, South Wales. This expansion will enable the company to meet the increasing demand for Phase III clinical and commercial services. The first phase of this project, in which 75,000 square foot will be fitted out, is expected to commence in 2017 and be completed in late 2018.

This unit will replace the company’s existing site in Crickhowell, Powys and will triple Sharp’s clinical service capacity for the global pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical research sectors. Sharp aims to offer full service support for larger global clinical studies from this new European clinical center of excellence. The company is developing its manufacturing and analytical capabilities and adding automated bottling, blistering, and serialization as well as interactive response technology (IRT) services for clinical trial management.

Discussing the new development, Frank Lis, president of Sharp Clinical Services, said in a press statement, “We are currently working at capacity at our site in Crickhowell, so this investment gives us a blank canvas to design a modern contract packaging, manufacturing and distribution facility that meets the evolving needs of drug development companies with single or multiple products at any clinical scale.  

The project is a welcome boost to the local economy in South Wales and the wider life science sector in the UK. As a result of the investment, Sharp will double its headcount, creating 73 new jobs and safeguarding a further 70 jobs with Welsh Government support.

Source: Sharp