Becton, Dickinson and Company will shell out $110 million to expand prefillable syringe production at its Columbus, Nebraska, manufacturing plant. The move comes in response to increasing delivery demands for GLP-1s and other biologic drugs, the company said this week.
The project, which BD noted also supports the U.S. push to onshore drug production, introduces manufacturing of BD’s Neopak glass prefillable syringes to the facility. The undertaking will create some 120 new jobs, with supply expected to kick off from the site by mid-2026, the company said in a Jan. 13 press release.
BD's Neopak platform is designed to support a wide variety of formulation requirements and is specifically meant to improve patient experience when administering high-viscosity and high-volume drugs, the company explains on its website. The device can also integrate with autoinjectors, enabling more flexible drug delivery both at home and in hospital settings, according to BD.
“As demand for biologics and GLP-1s accelerates, BD is strengthening its American manufacturing footprint to support U.S.-based drug delivery innovation and supply chain resiliency,” Patrick Jeukenne, global president of BD's drug delivery business, said in a statement. “This investment in Nebraska advances our long-term growth strategy and reflects our commitment to partnering with biopharmaceutical innovators as they bring advanced therapies to patients who require next-generation drug delivery solutions.”
Apart from integrating its Neopak technology at the site, BD said $10 million of its investment will be used to bolster cannula production capabilities at the Columbus plant. The overall investment will also support line upgrades and capacity improvements "across the site," the company added.
BD's latest outlay in Columbus comes after the company announced a $35 million investment to expand the facility’s prefilled flush syringe manufacturing last year.
That previous project is expected to create some 50 new jobs. Both expansions fit into BD's broader commitment to spend more than $2.5 billion in U.S. manufacturing upgrades over the next five years.