Aseptic Production Partnership Aims to Expand Global Market Presence

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MARCHESINI GROUP S.p.A.

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Strategic partnerships are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Technologies are advancing quickly, and regulatory demands are rising. At the same time, production processes are becoming more complex. A new collaboration aims to address these challenges by combining expertise, expanding market reach, and improving support structures.

Marchesini Group, a leader in pharmaceutical packaging machinery, and AST, a U.S. leader in the drug product manufacturing industry, have entered a strategic partnership intented to combine their respective expertise in pharmaceutical packaging machinery and drug product manufacturing. According to both companies, the collaboration is expected to strengthen their position in sterile fill-finish production by enabling the delivery of more integrated and technically advanced solutions.

Operational Synergies

As part of the agreement, Marchesini Group has acquired a 44.39 % equity stake in AST. The companies state that the investment is aimed at expanding production capacity and extending technical support networks across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. The partnership is also expected to align distribution structures and sales channels.

AST’s portfolio – focused on advanced aseptic filling and closing systems for pharmaceutical and biotech applications – will, according to Marchesini Group, complement the capabilities of Corima and MAR, the Group’s Italian manufacturing sites specializing in sterile product filling and precision filling and capping for liquids and powders.

Marchesini Group President Maurizio Marchesini said the agreement reflects a strategic effort to broaden the Group’s offering in aseptic technologies. He emphasized that the cooperation with AST and the increased focus on the U.S. market do “not imply a shift in production away from Italy,” noting ongoing investments in the company’s Barberino di Mugello and Siena facilities.

Potential Growth Markets

The companies report that the partnership aims to support the development of new technologies and to expand their presence in markets where demand for high-standard aseptic processing is increasing. According to Marchesini Group CEO Valerio Soli, growth in areas such as oncology and biotechnology is driving demand for customized sterile processing solutions – an area in which the collaboration with AST is expected to enhance the Group’s capabilities. Soli added that the partnership is intended to reinforce Marchesini Group’s position in the U.S. market.

As part of this strategic partnership, AST’s Chairman and CEO Joe Hoff will increase his ownership stake in AST. He will continue to serve in his current role and will join the steering committee of the Aseptic Division of the Marchesini Group which oversees the sterile fill-finish and drug product manufacturing activities.

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