The facility opened in 1994 currently employs 50 people and provides services to support API development and manufacturing product from pre-clinical through to Phase 2, including cGMP manufacturing, and capabilities to handle DEA schedule 1-5 controlled substances.

At the heart of the expansion project will be the construction of five new laboratories, with two dedicated to research and development. The other three will include a scaled-up chemical synthesis lab, a quality control lab and analytical services labs.

“This investment will see the Cary facility expand to meet the growing demands that we are witnessing from customers looking to progress novel small molecule therapeutics, and to accelerate early-phase development of candidates toward the clinic,” said Mathew Minardi, executive vice president and site head.

The location in the Research Triangle Park, Minardi said, “means we are close to a hub of local innovators looking for partners to assist in development, as well as serving a wider customer base through Sterling’s global network.”

Sterling invested in several of its manufacturing capabilities during 2021 and additionally opened a dedicated antibody-drug conjugate facility at Deeside, UK. In 2020, it acquired a US site at Germantown, Wisconsin, from Alcami. Since 2019, the company has been owned by private equity investor GHO Capital.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist