Onyx Scientific will invest more than £1.5 million, or about $2 million, to expand commercial active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing capacity at its Sunderland, United Kingdom, facility.
The small-molecule contract development and manufacturing organization plans to add four good manufacturing practice production suites, increasing the site’s total from six to 10. The added suites are expected to come online in the first quarter of 2027.
The expansion is intended to increase capacity for commercial API production while providing more flexibility for early-phase GMP manufacturing programs that require accelerated timelines. Onyx said the larger footprint will allow commercial production campaigns and time-sensitive early-stage work to operate alongside one another.
The investment includes new infrastructure and equipment. It will initially create nine jobs across production chemistry, analytical operations and quality assurance, representing an overall workforce increase of approximately 8%. The company said it expects to add further employees in the future.
Onyx, which has operated for 26 years, said the project is part of its longer-term investment in its chemistry, manufacturing and controls platform. The company’s facilities in the U.K. and United States support small-molecule drug programs from process research and development through solid-state chemistry, analytical development, Phase I through Phase III GMP manufacturing and commercial API supply.
Chris Atherton, commercial director at Onyx Scientific, said growth in the company’s early-phase and commercial pipelines helped drive the decision to expand the facility. He said the additional space is intended to support client programs that can accelerate as new development data emerge.
The company said the expansion will improve production scheduling flexibility and allow its teams to provide continuity as customers’ molecules move through development stages.
Onyx began work on the Sunderland development in August. The company said the project also reflects its continued commitment to Sunderland and the wider North East of England, where life sciences is included in the region’s local growth plan.
Phil Witcherley, director of economic growth and innovation at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, said the investment will create skilled jobs in Sunderland and support the region’s life-sciences sector.