Sai Life Sciences going into Alderley Park

Sai Life Sciences, one of India’s fastest growing contract development and manufacturing organisations, is to establish its first European hub at Alderley Park.

The business, which works globally with innovative biotech and pharma companies to accelerate the discovery, development and manufacture of complex small molecules, aims to support the launch of 25 new medicines by 2025.

It already works with seven of the world’s top 10 large pharma companies, as well as several small- and mid-sized pharma and biotech companies, and will now join a community of more than 200 science and technology businesses at the UK’s largest single site life science campus in a bid to support this goal.

Sai Life Sciences’ lab at Alderley Park will enable seamless integration between the rest of the company’s service offerings across the US and India, and which span the drug discovery and development continuum from biology, medicinal chemistry, DMPK and toxicology, through to process development and commercial scale manufacturing.

Andrew Kennedy, vice president and Manchester site head at Sai Life Sciences, said: “Alderley Park’s world-class facilities make it the perfect place for us to set-up a centre of excellence for small molecule API process development that will have a positive and lasting impact on the future of healthcare.

“To achieve our goal of supporting the development of 25 new medicines by 2025, it’s important that we’re part of a community that is dedicated to nurturing science and innovation, and with access to some of the finest pharmaceutical talent, excellent travel links and a broad range of businesses across the sector, we’re looking forward to establishing our first European base here at Alderley Park.”

As the first India-based company to be located at the park, Sai Life Sciences will join organisations such as the Medicines Discovery Catapult, which is focused on the acceleration of drug discovery through better use of technology and is currently coordinating the national Lighthouse Lab COVID-19 ‘megalab’ testing facilities, one of which is based at Alderley Park; The AMR Centre, a joint private-public initiative that supports the development of new antibiotics; as well as dozens of start-up and larger scale biotechs.

The business will have access to more than 5,000 sq ft of research, development and kilo laboratory space that focuses on complex chemistries better enabling Sai Life Sciences to support its customers across the UK, US and Europe by adding value to their NCE development programmes.

Dr Kath Mackay, managing director Bruntwood SciTech-Alderley Park, said: “The arrival of Sai Life Sciences to Alderley Park is not only testament to the strength of the facilities on offer here, but to the community we have built and the collaboration opportunities that this presents.

“Their move brings contract development and manufacturing to Alderley Park, cementing our position as a global destination for all things life science.

“As a business dedicated to drug discovery and development – something that’s particularly important at the moment – we’re proud Sai Life Sciences chose to establish its first European base here at Alderley Park and join the Bruntwood SciTech network.

“We look forward to supporting the team as they play an important role in the development of the life science sector.”