Reacta Healthcare Announces Major Expansion with Second Facility in Deeside
North Wales-based life sciences company Reacta Healthcare is embarking on a significant expansion, doubling its workforce and preparing to open a second facility in Deeside. This growth is fueled by a remarkable 400% increase in revenues since 2023, with exports accounting for 100% of its sales.
Driving Forces Behind the Rapid Growth
The expansion is driven by strong international demand for Reacta's specialist products, which are used in global food allergy clinical trials. The company has seen its headcount grow from 50 to 80 employees over the past 12 months, with plans for further recruitment as it scales up production to support studies worldwide.
Reacta's innovative approach addresses key challenges in allergy testing. Traditional methods require patients to consume allergens like peanuts, eggs, or milk, making standardization difficult. In contrast, Reacta's products contain precisely defined quantities of allergens in a masked form, enabling safer, more consistent, and robust testing across clinical trials.
New Facility to Support Continued Expansion
To accommodate its rapid growth, Reacta plans to open a new facility this year adjacent to its existing Deeside site. This will increase available floor space by 50%. The original premises will house an expanded Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) manufacturing facility and specialist laboratories, while the new building will include office, laboratory, and research and development functions.
This strategic move is expected to support further team expansion over the coming year, reinforcing Reacta's position in the global market.
Global Reach and Market Expansion
Reacta supplies its products to customers in several countries, with distribution to approximately 300 clinical trial sites across Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The company is heavily involved in major international allergy trials, particularly in the United States, where clinical research in this field is well-established.
In the past year, Reacta has secured new clients in Europe and the USA and launched egg and milk allergy products, expanding beyond its original peanut offering introduced in 2017. The company is also developing a product range suitable for children aged six months and older, aiming to support allergy testing across all age groups.
Looking ahead, Reacta is assessing opportunities to expand into Asia and extend its product portfolio, responding to growing demand in the food allergy sector in that region.
Support from Welsh Government
Reacta's international success has been bolstered by export assistance from the Welsh Government. Belinda Mortell, head of commercial at Reacta, commented, "Exporting has been fundamental to our growth and now represents what we do as a business. Global clinical trials need safe, reliable, and standardized allergy diagnostics, and our products deliver that while reducing risk and improving patient experience."
She added, "The growth we've seen—from doubling our team to soon opening a new facility—is a direct result of increasing international demand. The support from the Welsh Government has been invaluable in helping us enter new markets and build confidence as we strengthen our international presence."
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning, Rebecca Evans, stated, "I am delighted that Reacta Healthcare is thriving internationally, supported by Welsh Government export support programmes. Exporting can make a real difference to businesses across Wales, driving growth and creating jobs. We recognize the important contribution exports make to the Welsh economy, which is why we are investing £3.5 million this financial year to help businesses on their export journeys."
