The University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals manufacturer is celebrating its 40th anniversary of good manufacturing practices.

The manufacturer is a university-affiliated producer that works with UI faculty from the College of Pharmacy to produce pharmaceutical drugs that are supplied to the UI Hospitals and Clinics.

In 1974, the producers began the good manufacturing practices services. In 1992, the Center for Advanced Pharmaceuticals was developed. In 2008, that program was merged with the original pharmaceutical group to become the present department.

“It started out small and grew over time,” said Mic Wells, the director of UI Pharmaceuticals.

Wells said the success of the UI Pharmaceuticals over the past 40 years should be credited to all of the former executives, including Dean Wurster.

Wells said with regards to the future, things are up in the air, but that the deans are working hard to make sure that their manufacturing may someday become a strong commercial base.

— by Daniel Valentin