NORWICH – Norwich Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leader in full-service contract development and manufacturing, is expanding its services to now include small scale feasibility and initial product development for prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. The non-GMP development facility will offer Norwich customers greater flexibility and speed when assessing the feasibility of technical concepts and formulations, and create streamlined progression from clinical into scale-up and through commercial manufacturing.

Norwich’s comprehensive product development capabilities include formulation, analytical method development and validation, process optimization, and scalable manufacturing. The state-of-the-art, non-GMP facility is comprised of an analytical laboratory designed for potent compound handling, and a development area enabling formulation and product transfer verification. The company also has a pilot plant for technology transfer and small-scale manufacturing.

“Establishing feasibility and initial product development capabilities fills a significant unmet need for customers who are seeking a complete range of services from a contract provider. It also underscores our focus to build a robust capability for all stages of the product lifecycle,” said Chris Calhoun, president of Norwich Pharmaceuticals.

The product development unit is led by Dr. Robert E. O’Connor, PhD, vice president of product development and technical services, who has more than 30 years of domestic and international pharmaceutical experience. Before recently joining Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Dr. O’Connor was the vice president of product support for Johnson & Johnson, where he served in a leadership capacity since 2003. A registered pharmacist and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Dr. O’Connor received his PhD in pharmaceutics from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.