ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group , announced today that it has completed the initial phase of a two-stage expansion at its SAFC Pharmorphix(TM) research facility in Cambridge, U.K., for its SAFC Pharma business. Completion of a 2,500 sq. ft. laboratory extension will be followed by additional investment in spring 2007 as part of a $600,000 expansion program.
SAFC Pharmorphix is one of a few organizations specializing in solid form characterization and research. These services focus on understanding and modifying the physical properties of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to ensure patient benefit, optimize product development and protect intellectual property. Services include polymorph investigation, salt selection, physiochemical property determinations, pre-formulation profiling, co-crystallization, classical chiral resolution and crystallization studies.
The expanded laboratory will support expected growth in addition to developing leading-edge science and analytical techniques. In the second quarter of 2007, SAFC Pharmorphix expects to introduce additional state-of-the-art X-ray crystallography equipment into the lab.
Last November, SAFC Pharma announced plans to expand Pharmorphix’ capabilities into the U.S. with a new laboratory at their flagship high potency active pharmaceutical ingredients facility in Madison, Wisconsin. The new U.S. lab is expected to be operational in spring 2007.
About SAFC: SAFC is the custom manufacturing group within the Sigma-Aldrich Group that focuses on both biochemical production and the manufacturing of 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, SAFC Supply Solutions, SAFC Biosciences, and SAFC Hitech -- and had annual sales of nearly $437 million in 2005. 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. Its 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. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,300 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 its 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.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050215/CGSIGMAALLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comSigma-Aldrich Group
CONTACT: Dr. Frank Wicks, President of SAFC, +1-314-286-8008; or Media,Mr. Richard Kerns of Northern Exposure, +44.161.728.5880, for Sigma-Aldrich
Web site: http://www.sigma-aldrich.com//
