Big in Japan: Sterling Pharma Solutions expands presence in Asia

Global active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) developer and manufacturer, Sterling Pharma Solutions, has experienced growth within the Japanese market and as such is now working with numerous clients in the region.

This expanded presence has seen Sterling start working with two big pharma companies among others to provide services such as fluorination, hazardous chemistry and continuous processing. Additionally, the company’s technology and innovation strategy, which resulted in it winning two major contracts in Japan, is designed to keep it at the forefront of new developments in API manufacturing.

“Japan is the third largest pharmaceutical market in the world and over the last few years we have seen a lot of development in the innovator API space,” revealed Kevin Cook, CEO of Sterling Pharma Solutions. “Sterling is strong when it comes to managing the challenges associated with innovator APIs and this is largely due to our commitment to developing and utilising new technologies to deliver complex molecules with quality output on time.

“Japanese pharmaceutical companies have tended to manufacture most of their products in-house. However, with cost pressures continuing to increase and the growing emerging pharma sector in Japan; the outsourcing market is rapidly maturing to provide increasing opportunities for CDMOs.”

The company has plans to expand its presence further in this market and recently appointed a representative to drive business development in Japan.

Koichi Hirayarma will be mainly responsible for driving Sterling’s sales activity in Japan and acting as a point of contact for the CDMO’s clients in this market. “The Japanese market is heavily concerned with quality, which is an area that Sterling excels in,” he said. “The company’s regulatory compliance record, combined with access to the latest technologies, make Sterling an ideal service provider for Japanese companies. I look forward to continuing to grow its presence in this market.”

Sterling Pharma Solutions has been successfully audited by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PDMA) in Japan.