Aenova invests in fill & finish capacity for biologics and vaccines

One high-speed line will enable the CDMO to produce more than 80 million glass and plastic vials and in excess of 180 million prefilled syringes a year

Sterile injectables specialist Aenova has announced it is building a new sterile production area at its Latina, Italy site to expands its fill and finish capacity for the production of biologics and BSL-1 and BSL-2 vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The investment of over €16 million will fund a new fill and finish area for large-volume vials and prefilled syringes with high-speed filling lines including compounding.

The first line to be installed will have a capacity of over 80 million glass and plastic vials and 180 million prefilled syringes a year.

Using a fully automated aseptic filling process, the company will be able to provide 0.5 to 10 mL prefilled syringes and 2 to 10 mL for ready-to-use vials. Quality control, packaging and labeling, including serialization, complete the scope of supply.

In addition, Aenova says it is planning a phased capacity expansion of this new area with up to another three high-speed filling lines.

Earlier this year, the company increased sterile production to 100 million ampoules and vials at its Gronau site, which equates to a capacity increase for sterile liquids of around 7%.

Last week's announcement about the Latina expansion complements the CDMO's existing offering in ampoules, and liquid and lyophilized vials.

The Aenova site in Latina, one of the largest production facilities in the Aenova Group with around 600 employees, produces and distributes pharmaceutical products for human and animal health worldwide.