SAFC Pharma Commissions HPAPI Conjugates Facility at...( ST. LOUIS Sept. 29 /- SAFC Pharma...),Health

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC Pharma(TM), a focus area within SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced details of a new suite that has been commissioned at its St. Louis campus that will produce high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) conjugates to support oncology drug development. The 600-sq ft suite will enable the conjugation of HPAPIs to a variety of targeted delivery molecules, including monoclonal antibodies. In addition, the new facility can accommodate early-stage clinical supplies and can handle multi-kilogram quantities, with the capability to expand production up to commercial-scale.

"Bio-conjugates represent the next generation of 'smart munitions' in healthcare's anti-cancer arsenal," said Dave Feldker, SAFC Pharma US Vice President. "Due to our significant breadth of chemistry, containment engineering and biologics capabilities, SAFC Pharma is well-positioned as the leading player in this exciting niche."

SAFC has significant experience and capacity in the production of HPAPIs, an area in which the company is seeing rapid growth. The company's Madison facility, for example, has produced HPAPIs for more than 15 years and is certified by SafeBridge(R) Consultants for handling HPAPIs up to Category IV (the most potent) while the St. Louis site has more than 30 years experience in conjugation technology.

"The HPAPI market has grown at a high double-digit pace; the number of customers we have has more than doubled over the past three years, with particular demand growth for biologic-HPAPI conjugates for oncology drugs," continued Dave Feldker. "Dozens of products are currently in clinical trials, and this new facility underline's SAFC's i
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