West plans site expansions and upgrades in multi-year investment

Published: 13-May-2015

Will build two new R&D Centres of Excellence in Asia Pacific and Europe


West Pharmaceutical Services has announced a multi-year investment as part of its evolving research and development strategy.

No financial details have been revealed, but the company says its aim is to offer better support to all of its pharmaceutical customers around the world.

West says it will add capabilities to all of its global packaging systems R&D facilities, and develop two new R&D Centres of Excellence – one in the Asia Pacific region and one in Europe – to leverage regional capabilities and expertise in parenteral drug packaging.

The company's facility in the Asia Pacific region will serve as a Centre of Excellence for innovation across all technologies specific to the emerging markets and is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the facility in Europe will be the company's Centre of Excellence for drug vial and cartridge seals, plastic technology and packaging component materials development, and will be on line by the end of 2016.

Our enhanced R&D Development Centres – in all regions of the globe – will further our commitment to our customers

In addition to these new facilities, West is making a 'significant investment' in North America to expand the current R&D centre located within the Exton, PA headquarters, and to upgrade the St Petersburg facility in Florida.

Karen Flynn, President, Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems, West, said. 'Our enhanced R&D Development Centres – in all regions of the globe – will further our commitment to our customers by providing world-class, science-based process and product development that enables us to quickly and efficiently anticipate and respond to changing market needs with new, innovative solutions.'

West's R&D global network also includes development centres for self-injection and drug delivery systems along with the company's contract manufacturing facilities in Tempe, Arizona, and Dublin, Ireland. A team focused on innovation in delivery systems is led from the West Innovation Centre in Washington, N.J.

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