Sharp, a global contract packaging and clinical supply services, has begun the validation phase of Sharp UK, a £9.5 million Clinical Services Centre of Excellence in Rhymney, Wales.
Development of the state-of-the-art, multiple-phase pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging and distribution facility began in 2017 and is now complete.
The first phase of the expansion has involved renovation of a 10,200 m2 GMP facility on the 11 acre site, which will offer clinical trial supplies packaging, labelling, distribution, QP services as well as secure drug storage.
Frank Lis, president of Sharp Clinical Services, said: “Investing in new facilities and increasing our capacity enables Sharp to be even more responsive to customer requirements, while also meeting the growing demand for our services.”
Investment in the facility, which included £500,000 from the Welsh Government, enables the company to satisfy increased demand for global clinical and commercial services. Once complete, it will triple Sharp’s clinical service capacity for the pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical research sectors.
“Sharp UK will allow us to offer a broader range of integrated services from a world-class clinical facility. As such we are developing our manufacturing and analytical capabilities and adding automated bottling, blistering and serialisation as well as Interactive Response Technology (IRT) services for clinical trial management.”
“This means we will be able to offer full service support for larger global clinical studies from this new Clinical Services Centre of Excellence.”
The new facility will create 73 new jobs and safeguard a further 70 with support from the Welsh Government.