Pharmaceutical company expanding Allentown operations

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U.S. Specialty Formulations (USSF), a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, plans to expand its Allentown operations to develop a COVID-19 vaccine with its partner VaxForm,

USSF is using VaxForm’s oral vaccine platform technology to adapt an emergent that will act as a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The platform will use proteins to produce an immune response.

Clinical materials from the Allentown plant will be used in phase one clinical safety trials in February.

The company is seeking an emergency use authorization approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its oral and injectable COVID-19 vaccine. To meet the demand for the vaccine, the company will need to expand its facility, purchase equipment, and hire at least 97 employees.

“Completion of the USSF expansion will add a significant capability and capacity for our offerings and specifically to the oral Vaccine Platforms,” Dr. Kyle Flanigan, USSF CEO, said. “As we continue the ramp for our Generation 1 and Generation 2 oral platforms, USSF will have the manufacturing space and human resources to deploy vaccines throughout PA and the world. This is expected to have a dramatic positive impact on world health.”

The Department of Community and Economic Development awarded USSF with more than $225,000 through the COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments, and Therapies program.