Part One: Exploring Philadelphia’s CDMOs

In the first installment of our two-part CDMO series, we explore contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) that support traditional drug developers, including those focused on small and large molecules. In next week’s edition, we’ll shift our focus to CDMOs specializing in advanced therapies.

Bryan Kennedy | November 12, 2024

BioBuzz has been connecting the life science workforce since 2009. We’ve built an expansive community in the Mid-Atlantic with a national readership that spans from Massachusettes to Florida, and New York to California. For our next chapter, we’re building a proprietary talent logistics model to help employers source and hire life science talent. Learn more.

---

Philadelphia has a rich legacy in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, particularly in the realm of contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). For decades, the city has been home to numerous CDMOs supporting both small and large-molecule drug developers. These organizations have played a vital role in the city’s growth as a life sciences hub, driving innovation and ensuring the timely production of critical therapies. In this first installment of our two-part CDMO series, we’ll explore the essential contributions of these CDMOs to the traditional drug development process. Next week, we’ll highlight those pioneering advanced therapies.

Abzena

360 George Patterson Blvd, Bristol, PA 

Abzena, a prominent CDMO and CRO specializing in bioconjugates, ADCs, and complex biologics, continues to grow its capabilities across global sites. In March 2023, the company secured $65 million in funding led by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) and Biospring Partners. This investment supports key areas like drug discovery services, expanding cell line offerings, and enhancing fill-finish capabilities. Additionally, Abzena allocated $5 million to its Bristol, PA facility to meet the rising demand for bioconjugates and ADCs.

As part of the Bristol site’s upgrade, a new purification system will be installed to boost the efficiency of clinical manufacturing processes. This system, capable of operating at pressures up to 100 bars, will enhance pressure and flow rate capacities, ensuring Abzena can meet the complex needs of its clients.

Adare Pharma Solutions

1100 Orthodox St, Philadelphia, PA

Adare Pharma Solutions is a global, technology-driven contract development and manufacturing organization that offers integrated end-to-end services, specializing in oral dosage forms for the pharmaceutical industry. With expertise in areas such as taste masking, controlled release, solubility enhancement, and patient-centric dosing, Adare’s specialized technology platforms play a critical role in advancing drug delivery solutions. The company recently moved its global headquarters to Philadelphia, with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). In addition to this relocation, Adare has expanded its manufacturing facilities, including upgrading its Vandalia, Ohio site, to meet the growing demand for advanced oral dosage formulations. Adare’s strategic investment and relocation reflect its commitment to strengthening its operations within Pennsylvania’s thriving life sciences ecosystem.

In 2020, Adare was acquired by Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, and Frazier Healthcare Partners purchased Adare Pharmaceuticals from TPG Capital LP. Adare Pharma Solutions has developed and manufactures over 45 products sold globally, further reinforcing its significant presence in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Almac Pharma Services

Almac’s presence in the Philadelphia suburbs extends beyond Souderton, with additional sites in Audubon and Lansdale, PA. The Audubon facility, which focuses on commercial services, achieved a significant milestone in November 2022 by receiving product approvals from the U.S. FDA, UK MHRA, and Health Canada. This came after a successful pre-approval inspection, further solidifying the site’s status as a trusted provider of pharmaceutical packaging and supply solutions.

AltaSciences PA

1510 Delp Drive Harleysville, PA

Altasciences is a leading drug development solutions provider, offering preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology, bioanalysis, and contract manufacturing services. With over 25 years of experience, the company supports biopharma sponsors with tailored, integrated solutions for early drug development. In 2021, Novo Holdings acquired Altasciences, strengthening its capabilities in these critical areas.

Altasciences also expanded its Philadelphia CDMO facility in 2021, adding 35,000 square feet of space, which includes a warehouse, manufacturing areas, and a client-dedicated cGMP section. The expansion supports the company’s growing manufacturing needs.

Catalent

3031 Red Lion Rd, Philadelphia, PA

Catalent’s Philadelphia facility, spanning 206,878 square feet, serves as the North American Center of Excellence for clinical supply packaging. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including direct comparator sourcing, blinding and manufacturing, primary and secondary packaging, along storage, distribution, and returns management. The facility also supports expert project management to oversee clinical supply production and logistics, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

In February 2024 Novo Holdings announced its intent to acquire Catalent for approximately $16.5 billion, for $63.50 per share. This acquisition is set to bolster Catalent’s innovation capabilities and expand its operations as a leading CDMO. Novo’s strategic investment underscores its confidence in Catalent’s leadership and its future potential to continue delivering cutting-edge solutions in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors

Flamma USA

383 Phoenixville Pike, Malvern, PA

In 2019, Flamma USA, a subsidiary of the Flamma Group, acquired a 40,000 sq. ft. cGMP facility in Malvern, PA, from Teva. This facility supports early-stage API and drug development with specialized areas such as a cGMP pilot plant, kilo lab suites, and a dedicated HPAPI lab. It focuses on pre-clinical to small-scale commercial manufacturing and has the capacity for future expansion.

Flamma Group provides a broad range of pharmaceutical services, including cGMP manufacturing of APIs, RSMs, and NCEs, as well as process R&D. The company is committed to delivering high-quality materials and products to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. With operations in Italy, the USA, and China, Flamma ensures a secure and reliable supply chain for small molecule API manufacturing.

Nucleus RadioPharma (coming in 2025)

Nucleus RadioPharma is building a 48,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Spring House Innovation Park in Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania. The facility will combine research, development, and commercial production. Expected to create 50 jobs

Nucleus RadioPharma was established in 2022 through a collaboration between Eclipse Ventures and Mayo Clinic to address challenges in the radiopharmaceutical industry. Led by CEO Charles Conroy, Nucleus seeks to overcome manufacturing inefficiencies and supply chain issues that currently limit the widespread use of these promising therapies. The company draws on Mayo Clinic’s expertise in oncology and Eclipse’s experience in advanced manufacturing technologies, to revolutionize the delivery and development of radiopharmaceuticals to better serve cancer patients globally.

PCI Pharma

3001 Red Lion Rd, Philadelphia, PA

PCI Pharma Services offers a comprehensive range of products and services, including clinical trial materials, commercial manufacturing, packaging solutions, and drug delivery technologies. Their expertise spans sterile and non-sterile formulations, including solid doses, injectables, and high-potency drugs. With a strong focus on process development and regulatory support, PCI ensures that biopharma clients meet the highest quality standards. In October 2023, Kohlberg & Company and Mubadala Investment Company announced the acquisition of a majority stake in PCI Pharma Services.

As a world-leading CDMO, PCI provides integrated end-to-end drug development, manufacturing, and packaging solutions, designed to accelerate product speed to market and optimize commercial success. With 30 global sites and over 90 successful product launches annually, PCI Pharma stands as a reliable partner. Notably, their headquarters in Philadelphia serves as the hub of their U.S. operations. In 2020, PCI completed a significant expansion of its Biotech Packaging Center of Excellence in Philadelphia, further solidifying the site as their U.S. biologics flagship for clients.

Quotient Sciences

Quotient Sciences is a drug development and manufacturing accelerator providing integrated programs and tailored services across the entire development pathway. Cutting through silos across a range of drug development capabilities, we save precious time and money in getting drugs to patients. Everything we do for our customers is driven by an unswerving belief that ideas need to become solutions, and molecules need to become cures, fast, because humanity needs novel therapeutic solutions, fast.  The company has two facilities located in the Greater Philadelphia Area. 

The Boothwyn facility offers services in formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing, commercial manufacturing, and handling/manufacturing of high-potency APIs (HPAPIs). The Garnet Valley facility specializes in Translational Pharmaceutics®, alongside formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing, and handling/manufacturing of HPAPIs. Both locations are equipped to support various stages of drug development and manufacturing.

Sharp Services

23 Carland Rd, Conshohocken, PA

Sharp, a global leader in pharmaceutical packaging, clinical trial supply, and sterile manufacturing, brings over 70 years of expertise. With 2,200+ employees and GMP facilities across the US, UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Sharp partners with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, supporting them from early-stage trials through to commercialization.

Their Blistering Center of Excellence in Conshohocken, a 180,000-square-foot facility, specializes in high-volume blister packaging and custom packaging design. Sharp recently completed a significant expansion in Pennsylvania, adding two new buildings to boost sterile fill-finish capacity, particularly for high-potency injectables. In 2021, Sharp purchased a 4-acre plot of land in Conshohocken, PA, as part of a $17 million expansion to increase its cGMP packaging services. The new site expands the company’s blister packaging capacity by over 35%, supporting the growth of its Blistering Centre of Excellence.