Piramal Pharma to Expand Operations at Coldstream Research Campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Piramal Pharma Solutions is expanding its presence at Lexington’s Coldstream Research Campus with an $80 million investment in a new injectable drug manufacturing facility, university and city officials announced Wednesday.
The project will add 24,000 square feet of production space and create 45 new jobs. Company leaders said the expansion will nearly double Piramal’s manufacturing capacity and improve access to essential medications for patients and clients in the U.S.
“This is one of our largest expansions at Piramal and helps us address a market of injectables which could be worth over $20 billion by 2028,” said Nandini Piramal, chairperson of Piramal Pharma, during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on McGrathiana Parkway.
The India-based pharmaceutical company currently produces approximately 100 batches of vial-based medications each year at its existing Coldstream facility. The new space will feature a modern filling line, two commercial freeze dryers, a specialized capping machine and an external vial washer, enabling the site to meet increased demand and provide end-to-end production from its Kentucky location.
Piramal first established operations at Coldstream in 2015 when it acquired Coldstream Laboratories, a former University of Kentucky facility. Since then, the company has continued to invest in the site, previously adding a high-speed manufacturing line and expanding its capabilities. The new facility, expected to be operational by late 2027, marks another significant milestone in its U.S. growth strategy.
“This expansion ensures our clients won’t ‘graduate’ from our Lexington site,” said Nathan Richardson, vice president and head of the Piramal Pharma Lexington facility. “We’ll now be able to support their full range of needs from right here in Coldstream.”
“Our proximity to UK and the connections available there are key to many of our biotech and life sciences companies locating here in this area,” said Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington.
The announcement comes as UK prepares to launch an undergraduate degree program in pharmaceutical sciences this fall, which university officials say will help meet the growing talent needs of companies like Piramal.
“This expansion reflects Coldstream’s ongoing role in supporting innovative life sciences companies and strengthening the local economy,” said George Ward, director of Coldstream Research Campus and associate vice president for economic development and real estate at UK.