Asymchem Takes Ownership of Former Pfizer Manufacturing Facilities

Aerial view of Discovery Park. Image Credit: Asymchem

After Pfizer has previously announced that the facilities would be closing as part of a realignment program, Asymchem Laboratories (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), will now be operating the former Pfizer UK small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) pilot plant, along with development laboratories. As a result, it sets the tone for Asymchem’s first European manufacturing footprint, which will located on the Discovery Park campus in Sandwich, Kent.

Asymchem will also continue to operate the current plant in Sandwich, Kent, which is functioning as a clinical small molecule development and manufacturing facility.

The company is expecting the aforementioned development laboratories to become operational by June 2024, with the API pilot plant following suit in August. By the end of the year, the site will create 100 jobs, some consisting of former Pfizer employees. Planned additions for the site include capabilities for the manufacture of peptides and oligonucleotides manufacturing, along with sustainability features that use biocatalysis and continuous flow.

“We are excited to become a part of the European pharma manufacturing community,” said chairman and CEO of Asymchem Group, Dr. Hao Hong. “Meeting the needs of our clients in bringing manufacturing into the Western market will continue to be part of our long-term strategy to meet overall global business demands.”

The campus itself is also ecstatic about Asymchem entering the mix.

“We are delighted to welcome Asymchem to Discovery Park this summer. The organization has selected Discovery Park as their European base and home to their first manufacturing facility in Europe, bringing new jobs and safeguarding scientific talent.” Commented Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park. “Asymchem joins a burgeoning community of over 160 companies in a designated life sciences opportunity zone, representing an incredible talent pool which contributes significantly to the UK life sciences economy.”

Reference

Asymchem Secures Former Pfizer Sandwich, UK, Development and API Pilot Plant Manufacturing Facilities. Business Wire. May 21, 2024. Accessed May 23, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521088343/en/Asymchem-Secures-Former-Pfizer-Sandwich-UK-Development-and-API-Pilot-Plant-Manufacturing-Facilities