PCI Pharma Services (PCI) announced the completion of its acquisition of Melbourne, Australia-based Pharmaceutical Packaging Professionals (PPP). PPP is a provider of clinical trial manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution services and allows PCI to offer earlier stage outsourcing services to its customers conducting trials in the region. PCI plans to establish PPP’s Melbourne, Victoria offices as its regional headquarters for Asia Pacific, led by the founder of PPP and current Senior Vice President for PCI Asia Pacific, Craig Rogers.
Australia often conducts Phase 1 clinical studies and this acquisition allows PCI to provide new services in early phase clinical sterile and non-sterile drug manufacture as well as establishes a PCI depot to serve the Asia Pacific market. PPP’s logistical services include storage capability across a range of temperature conditions including Controlled Room Temperature, 2-8˚C, -20˚C, and -80˚C environments, which expands PCI’s existing capabilities in storing, packaging, and shipping Cold Chain products. PPP is currently undertaking a facility expansion and upgrade to add additional storage and distribution services, labeling and packaging rooms, Grade D manufacturing capabilities and sterile-fill manufacturing for Phase II clinical studies. PCI envisions supporting additional expansion given the anticipated growth from existing and new customers conducting clinical trials in the region.
“As a leading outsourced services partner, we look for ways to better support our customers in markets where they do business. Asia Pacific, including Australia, has become an important region for clinical trials and we are focused on building upon PPP’s successes to continue to support our customers’ needs throughout the drug development lifecycle,” Bill Mitchell, President and CEO of PCI Pharma Services said. “PCI is investing to be the partner of choice for our clients as they grow, evolve, and access new markets around the world.”
PPP is PCI’s fifth company acquisition over a five-year period. In October 2017, PCI acquired Dublin-based Millmount Healthcare, broadening its geographic presence in the European Union and complementing its service network in the United Kingdom.
PCI’s Clinical business has proficiency in supporting mid-size and emerging biopharma companies and expects to continue this focus in the APAC region. PCI has also invested in its commercial packaging business through the addition of new packaging lines, along with capital investment in its market leading Serialization and Anticounterfeiting technologies and has tripled its capacity to over 80 lines in total across its global supply network. PCI’s investments will support new capacity and capability for drug development across its global supply network.
PCI, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is principally owned (on behalf of its clients) by Partners Group, with partner investors Thomas H. Lee Partners and Frazier Healthcare Partners.