PCI Pharma Services to Acquire Ajinomoto Althea, Expanding US Fill-Finish Capabilities
Key Insights
PCI Pharma Services is acquiring Ajinomoto Althea (search), a US-based sterile fill-finish CDMO, with the transaction expected to close in May 2025.
The acquisition provides PCI with its first North American manufacturing location for prefilled syringes and cartridges, plus high potent manufacturing capabilities for antibody-drug conjugates (search).
Althea's San Diego facilities will create a major manufacturing hub in Southern California's biopharma corridor, complementing PCI's existing clinical trial services in the region.
PCI Pharma Services announced the acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea (search), a San Diego-based aseptic fill/finish contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and subsidiary of Japan-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. The transaction, scheduled to close on May 1, 2025, will significantly expand PCI's sterile manufacturing capabilities in North America.
Strategic Expansion of Fill-Finish Capabilities
The acquisition provides PCI with its first North American manufacturing location for prefilled syringes and cartridges, including advanced isolator technology for these formats. Notably, the deal also adds high potent vial filling with lyophilization capabilities, positioning PCI as one of the few US-based CDMOs capable of producing antibody-drug conjugates (search) (ADCs (search)), an emerging modality in oncology (search) treatment.
"Althea's three San Diego area facilities grow PCI's presence in the biopharma stronghold of Southern California, complementing its current clinical trial services to support product and service offerings," a PCI spokesperson told BioProcess Insider. The acquisition creates a substantial manufacturing complex in the region, with state-of-the-art facilities located within minutes of each other.
Enhanced Biologics Manufacturing Portfolio
Althea brings robust clinical and commercial-stage services for injectable drug products that align with PCI's global sterile fill-finish capabilities. The San Diego operation consists of seven buildings across three sites, strategically positioned near PCI's existing clinical trial and manufacturing facilities.
The acquisition significantly enhances PCI's capabilities in several key areas:
- High potent formulations, including ADCs
- Prefilled syringes and cartridges production
- Oligonucleotides and peptides manufacturing
- Complex formulations and lyophilization for various biologics
These new capabilities complement PCI's existing expertise in manufacturing nanoparticles (search), mRNA (search), monoclonal antibodies (search), proteins, and other biologics across multiple delivery formats including vials, bottles, prefilled syringes, and autoinjectors.
Creating an End-to-End Service Platform
For PCI's advanced drug delivery systems and drug-device combination business, Althea's assets supplement the company's expanded final device assembly and packaging facilities in both Europe and North America. This strategic move creates an end-to-end offering for PCI's global clients.
"Building upon PCI's legacy in high potent molecules, the strategy creates an end-to-end offering for its clients across the globe," the PCI spokesperson added.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With this acquisition, PCI strengthens its position as a leading global CDMO focused on innovative biopharma therapies, particularly in the growing field of complex biologics and sterile manufacturing.