SGS Life Science Services has announced the completion of a major expansion at its Mumbai facility with validation of new equipment currently underway. An official opening of this state-of-the-art laboratory is planned for May 20, 2015.

The expansion has seen the previous 1,393 square meter laboratory space more than double in size, to 3,400 square meters, and, once validation is completed, the laboratory will act as a dedicated cGMP pharmaceutical testing site. The workforce has increased from 65 to 115, with the potential for up to another 40 employees in the additional facilities.

Investment at the laboratory has been focused on increasing stability chamber capacity, and in supporting chromatography equipment, including new UPLC capabilities. The Mumbai facility now has the largest stability testing facility in the SGS Life Science Services' global network, with the expansion driven by the increased demand from both local and international customers.

Three new 100 cubic meter capacity stability chambers have been installed for 21 CFR part 11-compliant short term, long term and accelerated studies, and covers all the International Conference of Harmonisation (ICH) conditions, as well as flexibility for specific client conditions. The Mumbai expansion follows SGS's renovation of its Chennai, India, laboratory in 2014, increasing laboratory space within the facility. The number of employees increased from 60 to 75, with the flexibility to further accomodate up to 90.

"India is strategically very important for SGS Life Science Services, and the investments we have made in both Mumbai and Chennai have been based on customer demand for dedicated Full Time Equivalent-based models. These two facilities, coupled with our facility in Singapore, work very much as a harmonized unit, supporting not only local clients, but those across South East Asia and beyond," said Mr Paul House, managing director, SGS India.

With 19 laboratories offering contract analytical and bioanalytical services, SGS leverages its wholly-owned global network, present in North America, Europe, and Asia, to deliver harmonized solutions to large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. In addition to testing services for the bio/pharmaceutical market, SGS also provides Phase I to IV clinical trial management and services encompassing data management and statistics, PK/PD modeling and simulation, pharmacovigilance and regulatory consultancy.