Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services Announces Capital Expansion to Fuel Growth

SAN DIEGO and WETTEREN, Belgium, March 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services ("Aji Bio-Pharma"), a leading global provider of bio-pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing provided an update on several of its capital projects currently underway in both the United States and Belgium.  These projects total over $100 Million and will further expand Aji Bio-Pharma's offerings and capabilities globally.  In addition to the previously announced highly potent product conjugation and fully isolated fill line which has recently commenced operations in its new state of the art facility in San Diego, Aji Bio-Pharma is also adding a new fully isolated, nested flexible fill line, installing automated packaging and labeling equipment, and upgrading its continuous flow and small molecule API manufacturing capabilities.  Additional details are below:

• The Optima 7000 fill line and upgraded aseptic fill suite have been released for client aseptic filling operations (2ml to 100 ml vials).
• The HPP/ADC fill line (Isolator system) is scheduled to complete its validation activities, and be released for GMP use during the first half of 2019.
• A nested flexible fill line will support a broad range of drug substance APIs, increasing capacity by 50%, enabling larger batch size and a broader range of aseptic filling volumes for vials, syringes and cartridges.
• The addition of the automated packaging and labeling equipment offers serialization and aggregation capabilities to support and comply with Drug Supply Chain Security Act.
• Terminal Sterilization services are now offered for drug product manufacturing projects requiring this step.
• Continuous flow and capability upgrades provide additional capacity and resources to support increased requests for small molecule API manufacturing.
• A new Quality Control lab in Belgium will expand operational capabilities and supports growing demand from our clients.
• Reconfiguration of GMP manufacturing suites in Belgium to support increased HPAPI capacity and improve process safety with additional instrumentation.

"These investments not only increase our capabilities and capacities at our US and Belgium facilities, they represent a strong step towards achieving our Vision Statement of being a leading, trusted, innovative partner to our customers and to our people.  In doing so, we can further contribute to what's really important to us as a company, that is, improving and extending the lives of patients with the drugs we produce," said David Enloe, President and CEO of Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services. "These capacity expansions ensure that we have the assets and capabilities to meet current and future industry needs.  They also ensure we continue to attract the best talent to add to our world class teams."

About Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization with sites in Belgium, United States, Japan, and India providing comprehensive development, cGMP manufacturing, and aseptic fill finish services for small and large molecule APIs and intermediates. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services offers a broad range of innovative platforms and capabilities for pre-clinical and pilot programs to commercial quantities, including: Corynex^® protein expression technology, oligonucleotide synthesis, antibody drug conjugations (ADC), high potency APIs (HPAPI), biocatalysis, continuous flow manufacturing and more. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is dedicated to providing a high level of quality and service to meet our client's needs. Learn more: www.AjiBio-Pharma.com

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