3 Key Facts:
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- Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing of Grand Rapids secured a new $120 million contract from the Biden-Harris Administration to expand its facilities as the company agrees to invest $160 million in the project.
- The “fill-and-finish” biomanufacturing company has grown to five Grand Rapids facilities in thirteen years and employs nearly 500 people.
- The company played a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing doses of Johnson & Johnson’s mRNA vaccine at the federal government’s request.
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Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing played a critical role in COVID-19 pandemic and continues to expand operations.
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing of Grand Rapids has inked a $120 million contract with the Biden-Harris Administration to expand its “fill-and-finish” biomanufacturing facilities, with the company committing to investing $160 million in construction. The agreement arose out of the company’s role in Operation Warp Speed, when it provided “fill-and-finish” services in the production of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing – also called “GRAM,” not to be confused with the local art museum – contracts with pharmaceutical companies to manufacture sterile injectables such as vaccines.
“We are honored to support the U.S. government in bringing necessary biopharmaceutical products to market swiftly,” said GRAM President and CEO Tom Ross. “This new agreement is a testament to the invaluable expertise our organization has gained and assures capacity to handle public health emergencies as they arise with the highest level of efficiency and accuracy.”
Founded in 2011, GRAM has been growing ever since, pushing to expand their manufacturing capacity to meet the high demand for their services – a demand that shows no sign of slowing any time soon.
According to Ross, the injectable drugs market “is just under capacity on a global basis, and that’s related to demand for pre-filled syringes and cartridges.” Injectable drugs are the fastest-growing sector of the pharmaceutical market.
For seven years straight, GRAM has been listed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in the United States.Nick Bykerk, chief financial officer for GRAM, described the company’s growth trajectory as “exponential.” The injectable pharmaceuticals industry is booming. Estimates project that the global injectable drug market will grow from $754.5 billion this year to $1.11 trillion by 2029.
GRAM now operates five manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids with a production capacity of more than 450,000 sq. ft. GRAM employs nearly 500 people.
