Our Company & Facilities

History & Evolution

A Legacy Built on Complex Chemistry

Wilmington PharmaTech’s history is rooted in Wilmington, Delaware’s long-standing tradition of pharmaceutical and chemical innovation. From the DuPont Pharmaceutical Company, to the DuPont Merck joint venture, and ultimately to Wilmington PharmaTech, this site has remained closely tied to the evolution of complex API development and manufacturing. Founded in 2003 by Hui-Yin Harry Li, PhD, Wilmington PharmaTech built upon this foundation of scientific rigor and process discipline to create a focused, independent platform dedicated to advancing the future of small molecule and high-potency API synthesis.

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Two Decades of Strategic Expansion

Timeline

1991–1998

The DuPont Pharmaceutical Company, a division of DuPont with established laboratory and manufacturing facilities in Wilmington, Delaware, entered into a joint merger with Merck to become the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company before reverting back to the original division name with the buying out of Merck’s shares.

2001

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company purchased the DuPont Pharmaceutical Company.

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2003–2006

Hui-Yin Harry Li founds Wilmington PharmaTech with a solid-state chemistry lab, with the first GMP kilo lab established three years later.

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2010-2015

Expansion of Wilmington PharmaTech process R&D labs and multiple GMP kilo labs; Pencader campus growth.

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2015

Acquired former DuPont/Merck “Glasgow” site (54 acres), shovel-ready space for future API/HPAPI facilities.

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2020

Completion of Phase 1 expansion with 3,000L scale US manufacturing hub, including high-potency (HPAPI OEB 5) suites.

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2024

Acquired US team from Axplora (former Novasep) experts in large-scale separation, including chiral purification.

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2026

Phase 2 expansion, including a 10,000 L scale and exploring client partnership opportunities on our 54-acre campus.

Hear our Founder, Hui-Yin Harry Li, Ph.D, share the roots and growth of our company

Investment for the Future

Capital Investment for the Future

Wilmington PharmaTech recently received significant capital investment from Curewell, a life sciences investment firm with a focus on scaling specialized manufacturing organizations.

Curewell’s investment supports Wilmington PharmaTech’s ongoing expansion of facilities, equipment, and technical teams. As a result, Wilmington PharmaTech will further strengthen its ability to support complex small molecule and high-potency API programs from development through commercial supply. This partnership positions Wilmington PharmaTech to grow alongside its clients while maintaining the scientific depth, responsiveness, and execution standards that define the company today.

View the Investment Announcement Learn More About Curewell

support clients over the long term

A Platform Designed to Endure

Wilmington PharmaTech’s history is not defined by a single moment, but by continuity of purpose.

The combination of deep chemical manufacturing roots, experienced leadership, and ongoing investment has created a platform designed to support clients over the long term. Facilities are expanded thoughtfully, teams are built with experience and continuity in mind, and quality systems evolve alongside regulatory expectations.

This approach allows Wilmington PharmaTech to grow without compromising the standards that built its reputation.

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Join the Team

Wilmington PharmaTech continues to grow as demand for complex chemistry and high-potency manufacturing increases. We are always looking for experienced scientists, engineers, and operations professionals who want to work on challenging programs with real impact.

Explore Careers at Wilmington PharmaTech