Leading Life Sciences firm scales up with Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank support

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20/11/2018

A Scottish life sciences firm has secured a £2.5 million funding package from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank's Growth Finance team to increase production capacity and expand its product range.

Biofilm Ltd specialises in fast dissolving and absorbable films for use in food supplements and medical applications. The finance package from the Growth Finance team will be used to invest in new development and laboratory facilities, alongside more state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment at its facility in Blantyre, Glasgow.

The investment will enable Biofilm to significantly increase capacity as it looks to support a number of larger contracts and expand its range of products to consumers.

What is Thin Dissolving Film?

Thin-film drug delivery uses a dissolving film or oral drug strip to administer drugs via absorption (usually) in the mouth. Application is more discreet, more convenient and easier to use on the go, and is especially ideal for people who have difficulty swallowing, because no water is needed to take it.

TDF allows a huge range of active ingredients to be incorporated across a broad variety of dosages. It's a highly adaptable creation that can be used across many sectors including pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Biofilm for example manufactures and develops a range of products including mouth ulcer patches, teeth whitening strips and strips to tackle a dry mouth, with more products currently under development, and uses its technology to deliver TDF solutions for customers including Boots, Ranir and Mary Kay Cosmetics. The firm is one of Europe's largest TDF manufacturers - a truly market-leading business.

A Growing Sector

Usman Ali, Director, Growth Finance at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks said: "Research indicates that the global oral thin films market is set to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the development of new products and technological advancements in the manufacturing process. The team at Biofilm are pioneers in this area and are in a prime position to capitalise on this growing demand."

Growth Finance Solutions

The new partnership with Biofilm was the fourth major deal completed by the Bank's Growth Finance team throughout October and November, as the team continues to demonstrate its willingness to support innovative UK SMEs. Read the full release in The Scotsman.

Find out more about whether your business could benefit from our Growth Finance solutions.