SAFC Biosciences Expands European Commercial Manufacturing and Storage Capacities With $10 Million Investment

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group , has announced a $10 million development package to increase cGMP commercial-scale Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) manufacturing capacity at its SAFC Pharma(TM), Arklow, Ireland facility, and to expand capacity to enhance manufacturing operations at its Buchs, Switzerland facilities.

Scheduled for Q1 2008, the $4.7 million Arklow investment will increase production capacity and capability. The site will upgrade the pilot plant and add additional vessels to significantly increase chemistry capacity for API products. Additional enhancements under this project scheduled later this year are expected to increase utility capacity and further increase the site's award-winning environmental performance.

SAFC's 64,000 cubic meter Arklow manufacturing complex was acquired in 2006 and features a simulated moving bed (SMB) unit in one of its four cGMP and FDA inspected production bays that were designed specifically for commercial-scale production of commercial and late stage APIs.

SAFC's Buchs site will extend its existing cGMP production facility with a 17,200 sq. ft., $5.4 million expansion designed to enhance production capacity by 25% through improved materials flow and separation, and increased materials storage. The new two-level storage facility is expected to become fully operational in spring 2008 and will provide logistical infrastructure to support future expansion. The site supports manufacturing operations for the SAFC Pharma and SAFC Supply Solutions(R) business sectors.

SAFC President Frank Wicks commented, "These significant investments enhance our determination to support SAFC Pharma's rapid growth and help us reduce our environmental footprint, maintaining our position as one of the most responsible companies in the industry. The expansion of the Arklow facility underlines the desire of our customers to have their API manufactured to a reassuringly high quality standard in a superior technical environment, partnered with a premium company that can ensure a security of supply."

Developments at Arklow and Buchs are the latest in a series for SAFC Pharma and complement the recently-announced expansion of high-potency intermediates (HPAPI) manufacturing and solid-form research at its Madison, Wisconsin facility and the completion of two new protein purification and extraction API facilities on its St. Louis manufacturing campus.

SAFC Pharma is focused on cGMP manufacturing, process development and contract services for small organic APIs and advanced intermediates, and the development of large molecule biopharmaceuticals.

About SAFC:

SAFC(R) is the custom manufacturing and services group within Sigma-Aldrich that focuses on both biochemical production and complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing manufacturing services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials. SAFC has four operating segments -- SAFC Pharma(TM), SAFC Supply Solutions(R), SAFC Biosciences(TM), and SAFC Hitech(TM) -- and had annual sales of nearly $500 million in 2006. SAFC is one of the world's 10 largest fine chemical businesses.

About Sigma-Aldrich:

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 7,700 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit our award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Cautionary Statement:

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Company's expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Company's operations and conditions in the markets the Company serves. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SAFC(R) and SAFC Supply Solutions(R) are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. SAFC Pharma(TM), SAFC Biosciences(TM) and SAFC Hitech(TM) are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050215/CGSIGMAALLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comSigma-Aldrich

CONTACT: Dr. Frank Wicks, President of SAFC, +1-314-286-8008; or media,Mr. Richard Kerns of Northern Exposure, +44-161-728-5880,richard@nepr.fsbusiness.co.uk, for Sigma-Aldrich

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