Afton Scientific announces $200M Albemarle expansion

Afton Scientific, a manufacturer of sterile injectable pharmaceuticals, plans to invest over $200 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Albemarle County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The expansion is projected to create more than 200 jobs.

Founded by Thomas Thorpe in Charlottesville in 1991, Afton Scientific is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CMDO), providing comprehensive services including drug development and manufacturing. At its facility at Avon Court, Afton Scientific offers a range of services including sterile manufacturing, packaging and labeling, analytical and micro lab and pharmaceutical support services.

“This announcement represents an exciting advancement in providing critical, life-saving therapies to more Americans, and Afton Scientific is thrilled about our expansion in Central Virginia, where we’ve grown the company since day one,” Thorpe, CEO of Afton Scientific, stated in the announcement.

In January, Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, D.C.-area private investment firm that specializes in government regulated industries and works to close gaps in sectors like health care, announced it had made a majority investment in Afton Scientific.

“Companies like Afton are mission critical to the safety and well-being of America, and their importance is only going to increase as we continue to onshore and reinforce our pharmaceutical supply chain,” Malcolm Little, a partner at Arlington Capital Partners, said in a statement. “Ensuring systemically important domestic manufacturing is well-optimized has always been a focus of ours and since partnering with Afton nearly a year ago, we have worked hand-in-hand with Thomas, his strong management team and Gov. Youngkin to help meet the ever-increasing demand for its aseptic CDMO services.”

The expansion will allow Afton Scientific to implement new manufacturing technologies and increase manufacturing capacity.

Virginia competed with “several” states for the project, according to Youngkin’s office. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County and the Central Virginia Partnership to secure the expansion for the commonwealth.

Youngkin approved a grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Albemarle County with the project. Additionally, Afton Scientific will receive support through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a VEDP service provided in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners. Launched in 2019, the program provides direct delivery of recruitment and training services at no cost to companies.

Afton Scientific is a current participant – and a 2012 graduate – of the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade Program, which provides assistance to Virginia exporters.