Baxter International Inc. has announced a $50 million expansion of its sterile fill/finish manufacturing facilities located in Bloomington, IN. These facilities are operated by Baxter’s BioPharma Solutions business, a contract manufacturing organization that specializes in parenteral (injectable) pharmaceuticals. The expansion is being funded by a combination of Baxter and client investment. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The planned expansion of existing facility infrastructure includes construction of a new 25,000 square foot warehouse; a new filling line for flexible plastic containers; a high-speed automated syringe fill line capable of filling up to 600 units per minute and a new high-speed automated visual inspection line. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2021. Contract product manufacturing in the expanded facilities is expected to begin in 2022. The new facilities will support programs that are expected to add approximately 100 new jobs at the site, in addition to jobs created due to construction.

“We pride ourselves on being a contract manufacturing partner with the specialized expertise, proven experience, and facilities to help our clients successfully achieve their sterile manufacturing objectives,” said Marie Keeley, vice president, Baxter BioPharma Solutions. “Our Bloomington facility is already a global leader in sterile contract manufacturing, and this expansion will add capacity and state-of-the-art technology that will better enable us to meet the diverse needs of our clients and the patients they serve.”

The Bloomington site currently manufactures life-saving products for approximately 25 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The site has capabilities and expertise in parenteral delivery systems and clinical and commercial vaccine manufacturing, including preventive and seasonal vaccines for global markets. In addition, Bloomington offers a range of production and commercialization services, including clinical development, formulation, packaging and commercial launch capabilities. The site is also home to the Lyophilization Center of Excellence, an industry-leading resource center focused on the development of high-quality freeze drying.