Philadelphia — PCI Pharma Services, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in biopharma therapies, announced plans to acquire Ajinomoto Althea, Inc., a U.S.-based sterile fill-finish CDMO and subsidiary of Japan’s Ajinomoto Co., Inc. The acquisition, expected to close in May 2025, will provide PCI with its first North American manufacturing hub for prefilled syringes, cartridges, and high-potency drug formulations, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The addition of Althea’s San Diego-based facilities significantly enhances PCI’s global sterile fill-finish operations, creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing presence on the U.S. West Coast, a key hub for biopharmaceutical innovation. Althea’s capabilities in injectable drug products—spanning both clinical and commercial stages—will integrate with PCI’s broader expertise in advanced drug delivery systems, including complex formulations like nanoparticles, mRNA, monoclonal antibodies, proteins, and other biologics.
The acquisition also brings high-potency vial filling with lyophilization to PCI’s portfolio, positioning the company as one of the few U.S.-based CDMOs equipped to handle emerging oncology treatments such as ADCs. This expanded capability aligns with PCI’s strategy to offer end-to-end solutions across the drug development lifecycle, from early clinical phases to commercial-scale manufacturing.
“This acquisition underscores PCI’s commitment to supporting our clients as they bring life-changing therapies to patients,” said Salim Haffar, CEO of PCI Pharma Services. “By welcoming Althea into the PCI family, we are significantly enhancing our sterile fill-finish capabilities, expanding our presence in the growing ADC market, and strengthening our end-to-end service offerings, which include clinical trial services and advanced drug delivery solutions.”
The San Diego campus will also bolster PCI’s leadership in drug-device combination products, complementing its existing final device assembly and packaging operations in both Europe and North America. The addition of Althea’s facilities supports PCI’s scalable, flexible manufacturing model, which includes robotic sterile fill-finish capabilities for early-phase clinical trials.
With this acquisition, PCI further solidifies its position as a global leader in sterile manufacturing and advanced drug delivery, while strengthening its footprint in the biopharma-heavy West Coast region of the United States.
