Capsugel has completed construction of a new pharmaceutical spray-dried dispersion (SDD) commercial manufacturing facility at its site in Bend, Oregon. The completion represents the final phase of a two-year, $25 million investment to expand Capsugel's commercial SDD capability at the site. SDD technology is one of many bioavailability enhancement approaches, which also include hot-melt-extruded amorphous dispersions, lipid-based formulations and nanoparticle technologies

The facility is part of Bend Research, a division of Capsugel Dosage Form Solutions, which Capsugel acquired in 2013. Since acquiring Bend Research, Capsugel has added two commercial-scale spray dryers, bringing the total number of commercial-scale units on its Bend campus to three. This expansion adds to Capsugel's infrastructure and science in preclinical and early clinical development to provide an integrated offering for feasibility, development, late-stage clinical and commercial manufacture of spray-dried drug product intermediates. The newest unit, which is designed to accommodate high-potency compounds, will become fully operational later this year.

Bend Research is Capsugel's center of excellence for bioavailability enhancement, modified release, other technology platforms, and pharmaceutical R&D. The expanded facility, which has already created more than 20 new jobs in the past year, is expected to create an additional 20 full-time positions in the second half of 2015 and is designed to accommodate future capacity additions.

Source: Capsugel