Philadelphia– PCI Pharma Services has completed its acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea, a U.S.-based sterile fill-finish contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), in a move that strengthens PCI’s capabilities in advanced drug delivery systems. The acquisition is part of PCI’s $1 billion global investment strategy to expand manufacturing capacity and expertise in biologics, prefilled syringes, cartridges, and high-potency injectable therapies.
Althea’s San Diego campus will now serve as a major manufacturing hub within PCI’s U.S. network, adding large-scale aseptic filling capabilities and specialized services in oligonucleotides, peptides, and biologics such as nanoparticles, mRNA, monoclonal antibodies, and proteins. The facility enhances PCI’s existing infrastructure and supports its focus on complex formulations and lyophilization.
“This acquisition strengthens our position in sterile fill-finish and reinforces our commitment to turnkey customer partnerships,” said PCI CEO Salim Haffar. “Ajinomoto Althea has a well-earned reputation for excellence in biologics manufacturing, and integrating their capabilities aligns perfectly with our long-term growth strategy.”
The deal also expands PCI’s capacity in high-potency manufacturing, particularly for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a fast-growing oncology therapeutic class. Althea’s high potent vial filling and lyophilization capabilities complement PCI’s ongoing development of its Bedford, New Hampshire Center of Excellence, where a purpose-built facility for potent and non-potent compounds is set to be GMP-ready this summer.
PCI’s broader investment includes $365 million for new infrastructure dedicated to injectable drug-device combination products, including prefilled syringes, cartridges, autoinjectors, and pen formats. Two large-scale facilities under construction at PCI’s Rockford, Illinois campus will feature over 25 high-speed, multiformat assembly and packaging suites and are expected to be operational by fall 2025.
In Europe, PCI has bolstered its commercial-scale injectable capabilities with acquisitions and facility expansions in Ireland and Spain. The company recently acquired a packaging and device assembly plant in Dundalk and is adding a 120,000-square-foot packaging facility in North Dublin. In Leon, Spain, PCI is installing a new high-speed syringe and cartridge filling line with isolator technology as part of a $25 million investment.
Through the integration of Althea and its ongoing global expansion, PCI aims to be one of the few CDMOs capable of supporting the full lifecycle of advanced injectable therapies — from early-stage development and sterile manufacturing to clinical trial supply and commercial launch.
“Our customers, and the patients they serve, are at the center of every investment we make,” said Haffar. “By welcoming Althea’s team and technology, we are one step closer to delivering comprehensive, world-class solutions across the entire drug development and delivery continuum.”
