Contract development and manufacturing organisation OcyonBio has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian packaging machinery company Marchesini to buy its filling and packaging equipment.

Marchesini serves pharmaceutical and biotech businesses via sterile filling and packaging solutions.

This equipment will allow OcyonBio to support its customers’ sterile filling demand for vials, syringes, and cartridges.

Marchesini will deliver and install the initial equipment later this year while the remaining equipment will be available for commercial operation by the first half of next year.

The company will also provide its expertise via the training required to operate the new equipment.

Meanwhile, OcyonBio will serve as a reference site for Marchesini’s global marketing campaigns.

Marchesini Group USA executive vice-president Roger Toll said: “We are pleased to partner with OcyonBio to support their growth and mission to provide advanced therapies to patients.

“Our packaging solutions are designed to meet the highest quality and safety standards, and we are confident that they will help OcyonBio to deliver its products to the market quickly and efficiently.”

The strategic agreement was financed by a loan from the Puerto Rico Economic Development Bank while the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development, DECA, and Invest Puerto Rico also supported the partnership.

On completion of the programme, OcyonBio will have the capacity to fill, formulate, and package more than 60 million units annually.

OcyonBio CEO Robert Salcedo added: “This agreement is a game-changer for our clients. Not only will we have access to state-of-the-art filling and packaging equipment, but we will also have access to non-dilutive funding to support our growth.

“We are grateful for the support of Marchesini, the Puerto Rico Development Bank, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development, DECA, and Invest Puerto Rico.”