Ashland will be expanding its existing capabilities to include formulation development and Good Manufacturing Processes contract manufacturing services for solid dispersions and oral solid dosages. To support early-stage clinical trials, the expansion will include spray drying and extrusion processes previously based in Columbia, Md. About 20 positions will be relocated from Columbia.
The company expects the new facility to be operational by summer 2014. Ashland currently has pharmaceutical technology centers in Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Düsseldorf, Germany; Hyderabad, India; Istanbul, Turkey; and Mexico City, Mexico, in addition to Wilmington.
“This relocation and expansion supports Ashland’s commitment to ongoing investment in drug solubilization to help our customers capitalize on future growth opportunities,” said John Panichella, president, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “Delaware’s recent decision to provide incentives to encourage Ashland’s growth demonstrates the state’s positive outlook and its commitment to business expansion in Delaware. I am extremely excited about the growth opportunities for our pharmaceutical product line and recognize that the state’s actions were integral to our decision.”
The state had earlier approved a financial package that allows for assistance when opportunities to add jobs at Ashland appear.
“This expansion highlights our ability to provide high-value ingredients backed with superior technical support,” added May Shana’a, vice president, Technology and Growth Strategy, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “This Center of Excellence, combined with our multiple technical support labs around the world, will enable Ashland to deepen our relationship with customers and allow us to quickly solve customer problems.”
