PCI Pharma Services (PCI) has announced the acquisition of San Diego-based Sherpa Clinical Packaging, which expands PCI’s U.S. operations to the West Coast.
Sherpa was founded in 2010 by Mark Paiz. Sherpa’s core services include primary and secondary packaging and labeling for Phase I-IV studies, distribution, storage and returns. Sherpa’s facilities employ the latest cold chain technologies that include handling products requiring labeling and kitting at frozen and refrigerated conditions.
“Mark and the team at Sherpa have done an excellent job of building a customer-centric organization with a strong service reputation,” Bill Mitchell, Executive Vice Chairman of PCI said. “Their dedication parallels our own commitment to provide the industry-leading customer experience, which makes them a natural fit for PCI.”
PCI has been rapidly growing its capabilities and global presence to offer differentiated solutions for its clients. PCI’s global molecule-to-market services span contract development and manufacturing, including specialization in highly complex and potent drugs, clinical supply services and commercial packaging services.
In 2017, PCI acquired EU-based packager Millmount Healthcare in Dublin, Ireland, in order to expand its European footprint as well as to address customers’ Brexit concerns. In February of this year, PCI established its presence in the Asia Pacific region with the acquisition of Pharmaceutical Packaging Professionals (PPP), based in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to providing regional capacity expansion and increased market access, this acquisition added new early phase sterile and non-sterile drug manufacturing capabilities.
PCI employs more than 3,500 associates across 18 GMP facilities in 7 locations. The addition of Sherpa will add two additional state-of-the-art San Diego-based facilities. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, PCI is principally owned (on behalf of its clients) by Partners Group, with partner investors Thomas H. Lee Partners and Frazier Healthcare Partners.
Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal counsel to PCI for this transaction. PCI engaged global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal to provide due diligence services.