PCI Pharma Services Acquires Ajinomoto Althea

PCI Pharma Services has completed its acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea, a US-based sterile fill-finish contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. This acquisition is a key component of PCI’s multi-year, $1 billion investment strategy to expand its global manufacturing capabilities in advanced drug delivery systems, including prefilled syringes, cartridges, and high-potency biologics.

With the addition of Althea’s San Diego facility, PCI establishes a world-class manufacturing hub for aseptic filling of injectable products, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), nanoparticles, mRNA, monoclonal antibodies, and other complex biologics. The site also brings expertise in scalable production of oligonucleotides and peptides, complementing PCI’s existing strengths in lyophilization and advanced drug delivery.

This strategic move positions PCI among the few US-based CDMOs capable of handling high-potency ADCs and expands its ability to offer end-to-end solutions for drug-device combination products-from clinical development through commercial launch. PCI’s ongoing infrastructure investments in the US and Europe further enhance its capacity for sterile manufacturing, assembly, and packaging of injectable therapies.

Salim Haffar, CEO of PCI Pharma Services, stated: “Our pharma customers and the healthcare personnel and patients they serve are the heartbeat behind each stride we’ve made throughout this ambitious investment plan in sterile fill-finish and advanced drug delivery solutions. Concerning this latest step, Ajinomoto Althea enjoys a longstanding, well-earned reputation for producing novel biologics in various injectable formats. Welcoming Althea’s talented professionals into the PCI family strengthens our commitment to turnkey customer partnerships and, ultimately, our dedication to helping improve patient outcomes through life-changing therapies.”