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Upperton Pharma Solutions has been awarded the Pharma Project of the Year at the Pharma Industry Awards UK 2024, held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on Wednesday, 18th September. The event recognised excellence across the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, celebrating achievements in a range of categories.
Upperton triumphed over competitors Sanofi and Bouygues Energies & Services for its exceptional work on the 50,000-square-foot Trent Gateway facility, which was noted for its outstanding project management, strategic collaboration with UK-based suppliers, and swift delivery, taking just 10 months to complete.
The Trent Gateway facility represents a major expansion for Upperton, incorporating 10 GMP manufacturing suites alongside quality control laboratories, formulation development labs, analytical labs, and pilot plant spaces. This state-of-the-art facility enhances Upperton’s ability to meet rising client demand and further advance its services in pharmaceutical development.
Ian Lafferty, Chief Technical Officer and Project Lead for Trent Gateway, praised the team’s dedication: “This award is the culmination of 18 months of hard work by our team. To build a facility of this quality within 10 months is an outstanding achievement. To then validate, commission and receive MHRA Approval provided us with a platform to develop and manufacture on a new scale for our customers.”
Nikki Whitfield, Upperton’s Chief Executive Officer, reflected on the achievement: “To be recognised for our Trent Gateway facility is an outstanding achievement. The state-of-the-art facility satisfies our increasing customer demand and extends our service offering further along the drug development pathway. The facility meets our clients’ requirements from a complexity, scale, and potency perspective, whilst adhering to all the necessary regulatory requirements. The dedication and attention to detail by our team have allowed us to elevate our services while working with the best talent in the Midlands and the wider sector. This facility is a testament to our commitment to growth and innovation.”
The Pharma Project of the Year award highlights Upperton’s innovative approach to working with UK supply chains and delivering cutting-edge pharmaceutical development and manufacturing solutions.
Trent Gateway is designed to support the development and production of various dosage forms, including oral solids, liquids, semi-solids, nasal, and inhaled products. The facility facilitates early-stage formulation and offers clinical trial supplies from Phase 1 to Phase 3. Its GMP infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and containment capabilities allow it to handle batch sizes of up to 250kg, supporting larger-scale manufacturing operations.
