Wilmington-based drug development and manufacturing firm Alcami Corp. is investing at least $5 million in the expansion of its operations in Charleston County, South Carolina, a project expected to lead to at least 30 jobs there, according to an announcement Wednesday.

Alcami offers biopharmaceutical services across active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug products (sterile, oral solid dose, packaging and labeling), development services and analytical testing, Wednesday's news release said.

"The Charleston facility is an integral part of the Alcami network. We are excited about the growth potential of the site and its ability to support the increased demand for sterile drug product development and manufacturing," said Stephan Kutzer, CEO of Alcami, in the release.

Alcami has six locations in the United States and a seventh in the Netherlands and has supported more than 500 Investigational New Drug (IND) filings over the past 30 years, the release said.

Located at 4221 Faber Place Drive in North Charleston, Alcami will continue to expand its filling and freeze-drying capabilities, according to the release. Hiring for the new South Carolina positions is already underway, the release said.

"Alcami's announcement shows the community's commitment and ability to compete in the life sciences sector and tap into this talent pipeline. We are elated by all their success and congratulate Alcami on their expansion," said Charleston County Council Chairman Victor Rawl in Wednesday's news release.

The North Charleston announcement will not have an impact on growth plans for Alcami's Wilmington operations, Alcami officials said Wednesday. The company announced in November 2015 that it had decided to expand in Wilmington, planning to invest $15.8 million in additional space for labs and corporate offices.

"The move will bring at least 37 new jobs to the Port City over the coming three years, with a total of 50 jobs and $20 million in new investment anticipated by the end of the project in 2019," the November 2015 announcement said.

Earlier in 2015, Wilmington and New Hanover County officials voted to provide the company with $500,000 in performance-based incentives over a five-year period.

"Since the announcement in 2015, we have been consistently adding jobs," said Alcami spokeswoman Catherine Hanley on Wednesday.

Alcami officials had no update to share Wednesday on potential new headquarters space that was announced in 2015. 

"We’re focused on the expansion of capabilities and people," Hanley said.  

In June last year, Alcami gave Wilmington officials a tour of some of the company's buildings and operations, unveiling a recent conversion of nearly 5,000 square feet, of a mainly unused portion in its headquarters at 2320 Scientific Drive, to new laboratory space. 

After the June tours, Kutzer said Wilmington is where the company’s headquarters is, where 400 of the firm’s 1,000 total employees are based and “where we are trying to have the fastest growth within the company.”