Triastek to Open World’s Largest 3D-Printed Pharmaceutical Plant in Nanjing, with Annual Capacity of 300 Million Tablets

On September 14, 2025, Panda3dp.com learned from China Daily that Triastek is building the world’s largest commercial 3D-printed pharmaceutical production facility in Nanjing. Once operational, the plant is expected to achieve an annual output of 300 million tablets.

A Global Pioneer in 3D-Printed Medicine

Founded in July 2015, Triastek is a world leader in pharmaceutical 3D printing, boasting the largest production capacity in the field. Its pipeline covers blockbuster drugs, orphan drugs, and advanced drug-delivery technologies. The company’s patent portfolio accounts for more than 20% of global filings in this domain, and it has completed multiple rounds of financing.

A Factory Unlike Traditional Lines

Located in Nanjing’s Jiangning High-Tech Zone, the plant replaces traditional assembly lines with fully automated, digitalized precision 3D printers. These machines act like “brushes painting on a 3D canvas,” using over 100,000 monitoring points to layer drug materials into pre-designed structures—producing tablets with unique shapes.

Traditional tablet production involves multiple complex steps: granulation, mixing, pressing, coating, and blister packaging. By contrast, 3D printing reduces the process to just three stages: melt mixing, printing, and packaging.

According to Dr. Deng Feihuang, Triastek’s VP of Technology, this method offers clear advantages in structural design, efficiency, cost, and quality control. Unlike solid or simple layered tablets, 3D-printed versions can feature intricate internal geometries.

Controlled Release and Targeted Delivery

· Tablets can be engineered for controlled release, preventing fluctuations in blood drug concentration.

· They can also be designed with a “positioning system,” ensuring precise delivery to specific sites in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby maximizing therapeutic effect.

Regulatory Breakthrough

Recently, the Jiangsu Provincial Medical Products Administration granted Triastek China’s first-ever 3D-printed drug manufacturing license, marking a significant milestone. Triastek thus becomes the second company worldwide, after U.S.-based Aprecia, to achieve commercialization of 3D-printed medicines.

First Product and Expanding Pipeline

· T20j (Apixaban tablets, anticoagulant): Completed research and clinical trials; Triastek plans to submit its marketing application to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) this September.

· Hormonal Drug Line: A second production line for hormonal medicines is under construction and scheduled to launch in December alongside Phase II of the plant.

· Pipeline: Over 10 additional 3D-printed drug candidates are in Phase I or II clinical trials, including both small- and large-molecule therapies.

Supportive Ecosystem in Nanjing

Institutions such as the Jiangsu Provincial Drug Evaluation and Testing Center (Nanjing branch) and the Nanjing Institute for Food and Drug Control have established bases in the Jiangning High-Tech Zone. With more than 1 million m² of R&D and pilot-scale facilities, the park offers comprehensive technical and talent support for biopharma companies like Triastek.

Dr. Deng emphasized: “Behind this efficiency is the seamless collaboration and strong support from provincial, municipal, and high-tech zone authorities.”

By building the world’s largest 3D-printed pharmaceutical factory, Triastek is positioning itself at the forefront of a paradigm shift in medicine manufacturing. With regulatory milestones achieved, a blockbuster-ready pipeline, and strong local ecosystem support, the company is leading 3D-printed pharmaceuticals from scientific concept to industrial reality.