KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Pfizer announced yet another multi-million dollar manufacturing investment to support production of an oral COVID-19 treatment.
On Monday, June 6, the company, alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer, announced a $120 million expansion to its Kalamazoo facility, which will provide more production capabilities. They say that investment will create 250 new jobs, as well.
Pfizer said production for the treatment, Paxlovid, has already begun, adding to the fight against COVID-19.
"The site stepped forward when it came to the challenge of the COVID vaccine and even the sub-ingredients that feed the COVID vaccine. It was a natural choice for us to expand Paxlovid API [active pharmaceutical ingredients] production here in Kalamazoo," said Pfizer's Chief Global Supply Officer Mike McDermott.
Watch the announcement from Kalamazoo County here:
Pfizer's Portage plant has been at the forefront of the pandemic.
To date, it has manufactured one billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.
"We recognize that there will be breakthroughs, and we recognize that some people are hesitant to be vaccinated, so we think that Paxlovid is just an extraordinarily great tool to be able to treat patients that unfortunately do contract COVID," said McDermott.
#HAPPENING: Pfizer is announcing a multi-million dollar investment at their Portage site enabling the first U.S.-based manufacturing to support the production of its oral COVID-19 treatment, PAXLOVID. @GovWhitmer is also in attendance. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/XDqPOkMLED
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) June 6, 2022
The first shipments of Paxlovid originally came from a primarily European-based supply chain.
Pfizer said this expansion will allow the company to increase supply by an additional four million packs of the drug, helping meet global demand and increase overall access.
"This actually is our largest API [active pharmaceutical ingredients] plant globally for Pfizer. We are so proud of that history and the capability here," said McDermott.
"With this investment in Kalamazoo, we are shoring up our supply chain and showing the world that Michigan is the place to be for companies who want to do big things and need the incredible workforce to accomplish those things," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Using existing capacity at the plant to make active pharmaceutical ingredients, batches are already being made.
"The expansion continues over the next year as we bring in those wonderful jobs and more and more capacity to the site," said McDermott.
Pfizer said their plan, though, is to fit out one of their existing buildings that will allow them to expand the production.
"I’m so grateful to Pfizer for playing on team Michigan, for getting things done here," said Governor Whitmer.
Paxlovid was authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration back in December 2021. It is meant to be used for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older.
Pfizer is also currently expanding its Modular Aseptic Processing production facility to allow for more sterile pharmaceutical processing in Kalamazoo. It is expected to be completed in a few years.