NC Grant Support Results in $13.2 Million Expansion to Manufacture Advanced Biomaterial
CHARLOTTE, NC. – April 11, 2012 – Metro Charlotte-based, Ei, A Pharmaceutical SolutionWorks™ announces a new partnership with Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based KeraNetics - a biomaterials company focused on creating keratin-based products for use in areas of regenerative medicine and trauma care. Ei has begun a $13.2 million expansion within their recently completed 147,000 square foot facility in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Ei is providing product formulation and development to commercialize the patented product lines of KeraNetics. The new expansion, in part funded by a North Carolina state grant, will broaden Ei’s manufacturing capabilities. Through their relationship with KeraNetics, Ei will manufacture an advanced biomaterial. Ei will produce the advanced biomaterial to support the product lines for KeraNetics.
KeraNetics specializes in the creation of therapeutic medical products utilizing keratins - a class of structural proteins with unique physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that are designed to promote soft and hard tissue repair and regeneration by providing an environment to support the body's natural healing process. KeraNetics controls numerous patents for methods of purifying keratin proteins and applications for regenerative medicine and trauma.
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with KeraNetics,” said Michael Kane, CEO, Ei. “We feel that KeraNetics recognizes our team as product knowledge experts. A relationship of this magnitude showcases the level of skill and technology-driven innovation that exists in the DNA of Ei. Further, it illustrates the intellectual capital Ei brings to the table and taps into the strong business-to-business relationships that we have forged and continue to maintain with our customers. We are not only assisting in the development and manufacturing of exciting new products, but are providing an added value to KeraNetics as a bridge to Ei’s like-minded customers.”
Ei, A Pharmaceutical SolutionWorks™ focuses on Rx pharmaceutical, OTC, therapeutic skin care and animal health markets. The company provides product development services ranging from formula development, testing, and package development. Ei specializes in regulatory assistance through clinical trial manufacturing, scale-up and commercial production as well as offering specific development and manufacturing services.
“The relationship with Ei has developed as a result of KeraNetics’ intent to bring these exciting new keratin-based products to market,” shared Kim Westmoreland, Managing Director, KeraNetics. “We were originally looking at building a facility to manufacture these cutting-edge, keratin products which would have involved years of planning and construction. After meeting the leadership team at Ei and touring their state-of-the-art facility we realized that this partnership would allow us to cut those years out of the equation and create access to these products much more quickly. We could not be more pleased.”
Luke Barnett, Director of Research and Development, KeraNetics, added, “The high level of innovation exhibited in Ei’s current product lines also played a role in their selection. The level of skill and knowledge in their research and development team is a huge asset. We were looking for a long-term relationship with a company that could assist us in not only manufacturing these products, but serve as a partner and ally in looking toward future offerings.”
Ei prides itself on not just the cutting-edge science and state-of-the-art manufacturing expertise of its people, but the protection and strengthening of each individual customer’s brand. Continual growth of Ei in their capabilities is illustrated in this new partnership. This corporate acknowledgement of a higher level of skill and care resulted in the re-branding of Ei in 2011 from a traditional contract manufacturing organization to a Pharmaceutical SolutionWorks. Working in tandem to create unique, differential products with their customers, Ei fulfills that promise through the manufacturing and delivery stages. A turn-key process through one powerful partner – Ei.
About KeraNetics
KeraNetics is the global leader in the development and manufacturing of purified keratin medical products. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, KeraNetics is developing first-in-class therapeutic medical products utilizing keratin biomaterials. www.keranetics.com
About Ei
Based in metro Charlotte, North Carolina, Ei, A Pharmaceutical SolutionWorks™ develops and manufactures topical liquid, semi-solid and loose powder lines for Rx, OTC, therapeutic skin care and animal health products for a wide range of brands. The company operates 180,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Ei offers topical drug product expertise and turn-key project management including formula development, package sourcing, testing, method development, validation, ICH stability programs, bulk manufacturing, filling, and regulatory filing assistance. Ei represents over 50 customers with a strong concentration of multi-national, top-tier pharmaceutical and therapeutic skin care companies and other Fortune 100 companies. Ei is privately held and was founded in 1983. www.eisolutionworks.com