Sharp Clinical Services, part of UDG Healthcare plc, has begun the validation phase of Sharp UK, a £9.5 million ($12.1 million) Clinical Services Centre of Excellence in Rhymney, Wales.

Development of the multiple-phase pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facility began in 2017 and is now complete.

The first phase of the expansion involved renovation of a 110,000 square foot GMP facility on the 11-acre site, which will offer clinical trial supplies packaging, labeling, distribution, QP services, as well as secure drug storage.

Investment in the facility, which included £500,000 ($636,400) from the Welsh Government, enables the company to satisfy increased demand for global clinical and commercial services. Once complete, it will triple Sharp’s clinical service capacity for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical research sectors.

“Sharp UK will allow us to offer a broader range of integrated services from a world-class clinical facility,” Frank Lis, president of Sharp, said. “As such we are developing our manufacturing and analytical capabilities and adding automated bottling, blistering, and serialization, as well as Interactive Response Technology (IRT) services for clinical trial management.” 

The new facility will create 73 new jobs and safeguard another 70 with support from the Welsh Government.

(Source: Sharp Clinical Services)