Aston University in Birmingham, UK has just signed a long-term agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturing giant, Mayne Pharma Plc , to run the first dedicated medical manufacturing clean room in the region.

The room will be used to produce specialist cancer and other drugs and make them available across the Midlands. This will address the particular need in the region for aseptic facilities to support the preparation of pharmaceuticals with a short shelf life – particularly in the treatment of children. In addition to this, the agreement – which was facilitated by Aston University’s Business Partnership Unit – will also create a unique opportunity for the West Midlands.

Guppy Dhariwal, Director of Finance and Business Services at Aston stated: “Aston University is delighted to be entering into this exciting new partnership. It will not only create new jobs in the region but it will, to the best of our knowledge, be the first manufacturing unit of its type that brings together high-quality university research with advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques.”

The alliance will offer Aston University (which boasts the only pharmacy school in the region) and Mayne Pharma numerous collaborative opportunities, and will contribute directly to the University’s research and teaching in pharmacy.

John Edwards Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands said: “Medical technologies is a growth industry in this region and we’re delighted to support Aston University in this exciting venture.”

The clean room provides an ultra clean, sterile and controlled environment for pharmaceutical manufacture, research and teaching and will offer a complete specialist environment to support the development of new medicines. Its rooms are temperature and humidity controlled to allow the aseptic production, manipulation and reconstitution of a variety of medical products (including chemotherapy drugs usually used in the treatment of cancer and individually tailored treatments for premature babies) that cannot be sterilised commercially.

Scott Richards, President, Mayne Pharma EMEA, said: “This is an important development for growing Mayne’s aseptic manufacturing business operations in the UK. Being located at such a research-focussed university as Aston in Birmingham, and so close to excellent transport links will enable us to offer outstanding levels of service for our customers in the Midlands whilst also supporting our wider UK business.”