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SAFC Global
 

SAFC Completes $12 Million Expansion Program at Madison

High Potency API Facility

St. Louis, MO - SAFC, a leading custom chemical manufacturer and a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group (NASDAQ: SIAL), has completed a major $12 million expansion program at its high potency active pharma intermediates (API) facility in Madison, Wisconsin. The 38,000 square foot expansion more than doubles the size of SAFC's existing 23,500 square foot building and its cGMP manufacturing capacity at Madison.

The two-story structure adds several features: new analytical laboratories; expanded R&D laboratories; three new kilo laboratories; a hydrogenation suite; cGMP drying suite; and increased warehousing and storage capacity.

The expansion was driven by an increase in demand for custom chemical manufacturing services for highly potent APIs, including category III and category IV compounds. "Our Madison expansion enhances our ability to provide unparalleled service in the high potency API manufacturing market," said Frank Wicks, President of SAFC. "The additional capability allows us to continue to grow our high potency business, and provides resources to anticipate the needs of current and future customers."

Total capabilities at Madison now include: eight process R&D laboratories; eight GMP kilo lab suites; one mini-pilot plant suite; one main pilot plant suite; one hydrogenation suite; two isolated drying suites; one packaging suite; analytical laboratories; and a solvent storage area.

This SAFC Pharma site was formerly the principle manufacturing facility of Tetrionics, which was purchased by Sigma-Aldrich in mid 2004. The new facility is expected to come on-line for commercial operations after an opening ceremony in March.

About SAFC: SAFC is the manufacturing group within Sigma-Aldrich that focuses on biochemical production, the manufacturing of complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates, and customized raw materials produced, packaged and delivered to meet the requirements of pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and IVD manufacturers, and flavors & fragrances customers.

Representing 25% of corporate sales, SAFC is now Sigma-Aldrich's second largest business unit and a major player in the pharma and biopharma fine chemicals sector. Its four operating units are SAFC Pharma; SAFC Supply Solutions (formerly SAFC Specialties); SAFC Biosciences; and SAFC Hitech. The 2005 integration of Biosciences placed SAFC into the list of top 10 fine chemical companies, with annual sales exceeding $425 million.

SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing a range of services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials. For more information about SAFC visit http://www.safcglobal.com

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Our biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. We have customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use our products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has over 6,800 employees providing excellent service worldwide. We are committed to the success of our Customers, Employees and Shareholders through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit our award-winning Web site at www.sigma-aldrich.com

Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Company's expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Company operations and conditions in the markets the Company serves. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.