Piramal to Invest $80 Million in Sterile Injectables Facility Expansion in Kentucky

Piramal Pharma Solutions, a division of Mumbai-based Piramal Pharma Limited, announced on Sept. 30, 2024 that it is planning to invest $80 million into an expansion of its site in Lexington, Ky., that specializes in sterile compounding, liquid filling, and lyophilization for sterile injectable drug products (1).

A previous, $25 million expansion of this facility was announced in 2016 (2). At that time, a high-speed vial filling machine, an isolator-based vial filler, two lyophilizers, and automated vial washing and sterilization mechanisms were installed. In the September 2024 phase of expansion, 24,000 square feet of manufacturing space, a new laboratory, and state-of-the-art equipment—a new filling line, two commercial-sized lyophilizers, a capping machine, and an external vial washer—are being added, according to Piramal (1).

“This expansion represents a strategic investment in the future of Piramal Pharma,” Nandini Piramal, Piramal Pharma chairperson, said in a press release (1). “Filling the commercial manufacturing gap enables the Lexington site to access the rapidly expanding injectables market and establish itself as a key player in the segment.”

When completed, which Piramal said will be by the first quarter of 2027, the expansion made possible by this investment will increase the Lexington site’s manufacturing capacity from its current peak level of 104 product batches per year, to more than 240.

“The injectables market has steadily increased in recent years and there is currently insufficient supply,” said Peter DeYoung, CEO of Piramal Global Pharma, in the press release. “We are committed to adapting to meet this rising demand. This expansion will significantly enhance the capacity and capabilities of our Lexington facility, positioning Piramal Pharma as a comprehensive partner across the entire product lifecycle and enabling us to provide treatment solutions to more patients.”

News of the expansion investment caught the attention of Kentucky politicians and other officials.

“Kentucky’s business-friendly climate, prime location and access to resources make it an ideal destination for companies to locate, expand, and thrive,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in the press release. “The decision by Piramal Pharma Solutions’ leadership to expand and reinvest here is a testament to their trust and belief in what this great state has to offer.”

“Piramal Pharma Solutions’ decision to expand its Lexington operations is a significant step forward for our region’s economic growth,” said Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington. “This investment not only demonstrates Piramal Pharma’s confidence in our community and workforce but also underscores Lexington’s position as a prime location for innovative companies to grow and thrive.”

In March 2024 at the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies (DCAT) conference, Pharmaceutical Technology^® spoke with DeYoung about the company’s offerings (3). You can view that interview here.

References

1. Piramal Pharma Solutions. Piramal Pharma Solutions Announces $80M Expansion Plan for Sterile Injectables Facility in Lexington, Kentucky. Press Release. Sept. 30, 2024.
2. Pharmaceutical Technology Editors. Piramal to Expand Sterile Manufacturing in Kentucky. PharmTech.com, Aug. 3, 2016.
3. Piramal Pharma Solutions. At DCAT with Piramal Pharma Solutions. PharmTech.com, May 13, 2024.