Ecolab Life Sciences has officially opened its new US Bioprocessing Applications Laboratory in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, strengthening its position as a technical partner for biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. The state-of-the-art facility aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of life-saving therapies through advanced purification process support.
Located strategically in the Eastern U.S. near major pharmaceutical operations and bioprocessing innovation hubs, the new laboratory provides comprehensive technical support to biopharmaceutical companies and contract manufacturers across all scales of production.
Advanced Capabilities for Biotherapeutic Development
The facility is equipped with high-throughput process development tools and manufacturing-scale chromatography columns, offering turnkey support for biotech firms throughout their development journey. According to Ecolab, the lab enables companies to:
- Receive end-to-end support from early-stage development through commercialization
- Characterize alternative resins to reduce manufacturing costs
- Access technical expertise for regulatory submissions
- Conduct lifecycle studies to enhance manufacturing efficiencies
"Our new Bioprocessing Applications Lab marks a significant milestone in our ability to be a global technical partner to our customers around the world," said Jennifer Sorrells, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Ecolab Life Sciences. "This facility demonstrates our commitment to delivering best-in-class bioprocessing solutions by pairing Ecolab's innovative resin toolbox with deep domain expertise to optimize the purification process."
Accelerating Time-to-Market
A key advantage of the new facility is its ability to initiate studies and deliver results within weeks, potentially shortening development timelines for biotherapeutic products. The lab also provides customers with access to raw data and bench-level operations, fostering transparency and collaboration throughout the development process.
Several biopharma and contract manufacturing organizations are already utilizing the lab's capabilities to accelerate their development programs and enhance manufacturing efficiencies through comprehensive lifecycle studies.
Part of a Global Innovation Network
The Pennsylvania facility complements Ecolab's existing European Applications and Research & Development Lab in Wales, UK, forming part of the company's broader Pharma Center of Excellence. This multi-million dollar investment also includes an interactive learning space called The Xchange customer experience center and an API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) and excipient manufacturing facility.
The expansion reflects Ecolab's commitment to supporting the biopharmaceutical industry's growing need for specialized technical expertise in bioprocessing, particularly in the purification of increasingly complex biotherapeutic molecules.
Sorrells emphasized the company's mission: "We are dedicated to empowering our customers to accelerate the delivery of life-saving therapies to market."
Ecolab (NYSE:ECL), a global sustainability leader with annual sales of $16 billion and approximately 48,000 associates worldwide, continues to strengthen its position in the life sciences sector through these strategic investments in technical capabilities and infrastructure.
