Southwest Research Institute Breaks Ground on 21,000-Square-Foot Clinical Supply Facility

• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has initiated construction on a new 21,000-square-foot Clinical Supply Facility to enhance its pharmaceutical and bioengineering capabilities.

• The facility will enable SwRI to produce in vitro stem cells, vaccines, and small molecule therapeutics for clinical trials, improving research support for government and industry clients.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has broken ground on a new 21,000-square-foot Clinical Supply Facility designed to support government and industry clients in pharmaceutical and bioengineering research and development.

According to Darrel Johnston, director of SwRI’s Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Department, “The new facility expands our bioengineering laboratory footprint and adds dedicated bioengineering production suites with filtered air and low airborne particulate counts.” This development is expected to allow SwRI to produce in vitro stem cells, certain vaccines, and small molecule therapeutics in a clean environment, meeting the demands of clinical trials.

SwRI plays a vital role in San Antonio’s biomedical ecosystem, providing assistance with research and development projects of varying sizes, including small batches for rare diseases. As Dr. Joe McDonough, vice president of SwRI’s Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division, noted, “We help develop clinical supplies both for active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as the formulated products needed for clinical studies.” The facility aims to streamline the process from initial concepts to drug discovery and FDA approval.

The new facility will house three Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) pilot plant suites and quality control labs. Johnston added that “This will improve workplace and regulatory efficiency to provide the space needed to serve more clients locally, nationally, and internationally.”