SAFC to Expand High-Potency API Fermentation Ca...( $29 Million Expansion of...)

$29 Million Expansion of Israel Manufacturing Site

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich(TM) Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), has announced a $29 million investment to significantly expand its drug substance capabilities in high-potency biologics at the Sigma-Aldrich facility in Jerusalem, Israel. The site enhancement will enable SAFC Pharma(TM) to provide process development and cGMP manufacturing to customers requiring large-scale, high-potency, toxic or hazardous drug substances (large molecule HPAPIs).

The biologics area exploits over 30 years of Sigma-Aldrich's expertise in research, development and scale-up of fermentation-derived products in Israel and close technology links to Israel's academic and R&D communities. Scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2009, the 50,000 sq. ft. high-potency fermentation expansion will focus production on secondary metabolites (antibiotic-like molecules), cytotoxins and large-molecule proteins. A 30,000 sq. ft. area of the new facility has been designed to be Biosafety Level 2 compliant -- enabling manipulation of human pathogens. Site capabilities include 1,000 and 4,000-liter tank capacities for bacterial and fungal fermentation.

The new capabilities are expected to expand SAFC Pharma's High Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (HPAPI) offering to include fermentation-derived HPAPI manufacturing, complementing the multi-step organic synthesis flagship facility at its Madison, Wisconsin location.

Commenting on the investment, Frank Wicks, SAFC President, said, "This expansion builds on the fermentation track record of our Jerusalem facility while adding significantly to our HPAPI capacity. It is
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