Containment
OEB 4 Containment CDMOs
Compare CDMOs with OEB 4 containment capabilities (1-10 µg/m³ occupational exposure limit) for potent API synthesis and drug product manufacturing.
21 companies listed
About OEB 4 Containment
OEB 4 (Occupational Exposure Band 4) containment maintains airborne exposure below 1-10 micrograms per cubic meter. This level is required for many oncology APIs, hormonal drugs, and targeted small molecules with significant pharmacological activity at low doses. Engineering controls include containment isolators, high-containment dispensing booths, split-butterfly valves, and validated cleaning procedures.
OEB 4 is the most commonly requested containment level in CDMO outsourcing. Many new chemical entities in oncology and targeted therapy pipelines fall into this exposure band. CDMOs with OEB 4 capability can handle the majority of potent compound programs without the additional capital investment required for OEB 5 facilities.
Companies (21)
Aarti Pharmalabs Limited
India
Aarti Pharmalabs Limited is a leading Indian small-molecule CDMO specializing in API and drug substance development and manufacturing. They operate six manufacturing plants with two R&D centers, accredited by USFDA, EU GMP, EDQM, and KFDA. They provide services from process R&D through stability studies, scale-up, process validation, and commercial manufacturing, including high-potent/cytotoxic molecules and flow chemistry.
Small Molecule APISmall Molecule Drug ProductOral Solid Dose
AbbVie Contract Manufacturing (AbbVie CMO)
Italy
AbbVie Contract Manufacturing is an embedded CMO within AbbVie, providing third-party contract manufacturing services for over 40 years across 12 locations in the US and Europe. They offer services spanning antibody drug conjugates, aseptic fill/finish, biologics (mAbs and derivatives), custom API, eye care, hot melt extrusion, HPAPI, and oral solid dose manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OEB 4 and OEB 5?+
OEB 4 containment maintains exposure below 1-10 µg/m³. OEB 5 maintains exposure below 1 µg/m³ (and sometimes below 0.1 µg/m³). OEB 5 requires more stringent engineering controls: fully enclosed processes, negative pressure cascades, multi-stage HEPA filtration, and rigorous decontamination procedures. OEB 4 can often use contained dispensing with downflow booths and barrier isolators, while OEB 5 typically requires full process containment from dispensing through packaging.
What types of compounds require OEB 4 containment?+
Compounds requiring OEB 4 include: many kinase inhibitors (oncology small molecules), hormonal APIs (estrogens, progestins, corticosteroids), certain immunosuppressants, and other highly pharmacologically active compounds. The OEL is determined by toxicology data and pharmacological potency. CDMOs should have toxicologists on staff or under contract to evaluate compound-specific containment requirements.
Need help finding the right CDMO?
Our AI Matchmaker analyzes your project requirements and matches you with qualified manufacturing partners. Free for buyers.
