SK pharmteco Completes Facility Expansions in Swords, Ireland

SK pharmteco recently opened two major facility expansions at its manufacturing campus in Swords, Ireland—marking significant progress in scaling the site’s capability to deliver both large-scale commercial small molecules and ultra-high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs).

“Today marks an inspiring milestone for SK pharmteco and a testament to the remarkable dedication of our team here in Swords,” said Joerg Ahlgrimm, Chief Executive Officer of SK pharmteco at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “While we look forward to welcoming new and existing customers to these facilities in the coming months, today is about recognizing the vision, excellence, and hard work that brought these facilities from blueprint to reality.”

Multi-Purpose GMP Small-Molecule API Facility

The new multi-purpose GMP small-molecule API facility adds approximately 26.5 m3 of reactor capacity, including three 8,000 L glass-lined batch reactors with associated holding capacity and a 4.15 m2 Hastelloy agitated filter dryer. Built directly into the existing infrastructure, the expansion increases production capacity within an established manufacturing environment while also supporting future containment and capacity growth.

Kilo-Scale GMP HPAPI & ADC Payload Facility

The kilo-scale GMP HPAPI and ADC payload facility is designed for ultra-high-potency compounds with occupational exposure limits as low as 10 ng/m3. It supports batch sizes up to 0.5–1.5 kg and includes glass reactor capacity up to 30 L, rigid and flexible isolators, high-pressure chromatography, tray drying, and lyophilization. Located alongside the site’s existing ultra-high potent lab and manufacturing facilities, the kilo-scale facility creates greater continuity as potent programs move from clinical development into full GMP production.

“These two facilities will expand our capacity to safely handle HPAPIs and scale critical therapies from clinical development through global commercial supply,” said Declan Hannigan, Site Head & General Manager, Small Molecule Europe. “Inside these walls, our team manufactures hope. Somewhere around the world, a patient is receiving a life-changing treatment made possible by the precision and passion of our workforce.”

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