News Releases 2021
Nov. 04, 2021
JGC Awarded API Facility Construction Project for Small and Mid-Size Molecule Drugs
JGC Holdings Corporation (Representative Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Sato) is pleased to announce that JGC Japan Corporation (Representative Director and President: Shoji Yamada) has been awarded a construction project for a new manufacturing facility by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. group member Chugai Pharma Manufacturing Co., Ltd. for the commercial production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for small and mid-size molecule drugs.
The project calls for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), and qualification for a facility to be built at the Fujieda Plant of Chugai Pharma Manufacturing in Fujieda City, Shizuoka. The lump-sum contract is for an undisclosed amount, with completion of construction scheduled for October 2024.
In recent years, mid-size molecule drugs are receiving increased attention as a new modality, following small molecule drugs and antibodies. The new facility to be constructed will enable production of APIs for both small and mid-size molecule drugs.
In addition to meeting the new manufacturing challenges of commercial production of mid-size molecule drugs, JGC Japan will install several advanced containment systems for handling extremely high-potency compounds. These containment technologies are to be provided throughout the facility, ensuring environmental as well as worker safety.
Automation of production and cleaning reduces manpower need and improves productivity. Moreover, the client's requirements for advanced environmental and safety measures are met by eliminating CFCs, recovering waste heat, recycling catalysts and organic solvents to reduce waste, installing seismic isolation systems for earthquakes, and the planning of facilities and structures in the event of fire or explosion.
The JGC Group's extensive track record in pharmaceutical EPC projects dates back to the 1980s, and this project is one of the largest to date. We believe decisive factors behind securing this order included the expertise and proven experience accumulated by the Group over the years, as well as the client's assessment of an ongoing JGC construction project at the same site for the production of APIs used in investigational drugs. We will apply project execution capabilities developed through large-scale projects in Japan and overseas for the early start of production.
New modalities are expected to continue to be developed in the pharmaceutical industry in the years to come. Drawing on our accumulated knowledge and technologies in pharmaceutical plant construction, the JGC Group will play an active role in projects that fully satisfy a variety of client needs in contributing to the further growth of the pharmaceutical industry.