SCHOTT Pharma, a specialty glass, glass-ceramics and other advanced materials company, opened additional production lines at its Lebanon facility for both standard and sterile ready-to-use (RTU) glass vials on Wednesday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The lines will produce vials that will be used for biologics, vaccines, other complex injectable therapies and emergency room medications. They also more than triple local capacity for high-value solutions and significantly increase the site’s annual production capacity for core vials.
The expansion also included line upgrades, technology to increase the capacity for high-value solutions and modernizing infrastructure.
“The expansion contributes to SCHOTT Pharma’s long-term global growth strategy, with a strong local-for-local presence in the U.S. and scaled manufacturing capacity for high-value solutions that address key trends in the pharmaceutical industry, such as biologic medications and novel drug formulations,” Christian Mias, SCHOTT Pharma CEO, said.
SCHOTT Pharma’s high-value solutions portfolio includes specialty vials used for storing medications such as sensitive biologics and biosimilars, emergency medications, vaccines and innovative drugs or therapies that require lyophilization to remain stable.
The lines will produce SCHOTT Pharma’s adaptiQ, presterilized RTU vials, and EVERIC pure vials, featuring high chemical durability and a homogeneous inner surface. Lebanon is one of only two SCHOTT Pharma locations worldwide capable of manufacturing EVERIC pure vials and the only site producing adaptiQ pre‑washed, pre‑sterilized RTU vials.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for the procurement and development of medical countermeasures, funding most of the more than $60 million expansion.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for supporting the expansion of our U.S.-based manufacturing footprint,” Christopher Cassidy, SCHOTT Pharma USA president, said. “With its new advanced equipment, our site in Pennsylvania is strengthening supply chain resilience in the U.S. and ensuring the availability of primary packaging for critical life-saving therapies for patients throughout our nation.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger cut the ribbon at the ribbon=cutting ceremony.
SCHOTT Pharma USA is the North American branch of Germany’s SCHOTT Pharma. Last year, it generated an estimated $1.1 billion in global revenue. SCHOTT Pharma’s two manufacturing facilities in Lebanon and Duryea support more than 350 jobs.