West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., a provider of packaging components and drug-delivery systems, has announced a multi-year investment as part of the company’s evolving research and development strategy. To better support pharmaceutical customers globally, West will add capabilities to all of its global Packaging Systems R&D facilities, and develop two new R&D Centers of Excellence—one in the Asia Pacific region and one in Europe—to leverage regional capabilities and expertise in parenteral drug packaging.

The facility in Europe will be the company’s Center of Excellence for drug vial and cartridge seals, plastic technology, and packaging component materials development and will be on line by the end of 2016. The company’s location in the Asia Pacific region will serve as a Center of Excellence for innovation across all technologies specific to emerging markets and is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.

In addition to the new facilities in the Asia Pacific region and Europe, the company is investing in North America to expand its current R&D center located within the company’s Exton, Pennsylvania. headquarters, and to upgrade its facility in St. Petersburg, Florida.

West’s research and development global network also includes development centers for self-injection and drug delivery systems along with the company’s contract manufacturing facilities in Tempe, Arizona and Dublin, Ireland. A team focused on innovation in delivery systems is led from the West Innovation Center in Washington, New Jersey.

Source: West Pharmaceutical Services