The Winchester-Clark County Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposed expansion for Catalent Pharma Solutions at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Commissioner Steve Berryman made the motion to approve the preliminary development plan, citing a responsibility to support new and existing industry.
Catalent is located at 1100 Enterprise Drive, in the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Park, and already is zoned for light industrial use.
Director of Planning and Development Rhonda Cromer said the preliminary development plan is in agreement with the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. The new plan calls for two new entrances, one on Rolling Hills Lane and one on Enterprise Drive.
Catalent manufactures extended release medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, and general manager Steven Havel said the company hopes to expand is drug development efforts. Havel said Catalent has the capacity for current production needs, but officials want to be able to attract new customers.
“We think there’s going to be great opportunity in the future as other businesses need our services,” Havel said. “We’ve enjoyed growth in a difficult time.”
The preliminary development plan calls for an addition to the existing warehouse and production building, and an additional building adjacent to the current warehouse.
Company officials also hope to have enough space to manufacture and develop new drugs, while still reserving space for successful drugs.
“It’s like launching a new car on the market. We want to try to find molecules from customers in the growth phase,” Havel said.
He praised the work environment in Winchester and said corporate officials believe it is the best location to begin expansion.
“I think we’ve got some of the best employees right here in Winchester,”¿Havel said.
According to a news release from the Food and Drug Administration, Catalent recently was chosen to manufacture a new seizure medication. Onfi was approved by the FDA Oct. 21 as an adjunctive treatment for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Havel would not confirm Catalent’s role in the manufacturing of Onfi, citing confidentiality agreements.
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchester-sun.com.
