Greenville's PAI Pharma Leads in Liquid Medications

The pharmaceutical company produces nearly a third of all oral liquid prescriptions in the U.S. from its South Carolina facilities.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:47am

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PAI Pharma, a generic specialty pharmaceutical company based in Greenville, South Carolina, has grown from an over-the-counter medication startup over 50 years ago into a multi-million-dollar business that now produces almost a third of all the liquid prescription medicines sold in the U.S. The company, which has over 650 employees, focuses on oral liquid and injectable medications, manufacturing products like prednisolone, lidocaine viscous, and the liquid antihistamine cetirizine.

Why it matters

PAI Pharma's success highlights South Carolina's growing life sciences industry, which has been designated a key growth sector by the state's Department of Commerce. The company's expansion and investment in its Greenville facilities have provided hundreds of high-wage jobs and supported the next generation of the state's workforce.

The details

PAI Pharma, originally founded as Pharmaceutical Associates Inc. in 1968, rebranded about five years ago to the more concise PAI. The company has changed ownership a few times over the years, from local pharmacists to a private equity firm, but has remained focused on producing liquid medications. Today, PAI makes around 10 million bottles of medication and 100 million unit-dose cups annually at its Greenville campus, which spans over 300,000 square feet across three buildings. The company is also expanding into sterile injectable products and exploring automation to improve efficiency.

  • PAI Pharma was founded in 1968.
  • The company rebranded from Pharmaceutical Associates Inc. to PAI about 5 years ago.
  • PAI was acquired by private equity firm Olympus Partners in 2019.

The players

PAI Pharma

A generic specialty pharmaceutical company concentrating on oral liquid and injectable medications, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.

Brandon Rockwell

The president and chief operating officer of PAI Pharma.

Kurt Orlofski

The CEO of PAI Pharma, headquartered in New Jersey.

Olympus Partners

The private equity firm that acquired PAI Pharma in 2019.

SCbio

A leader in South Carolina's life sciences sector that fosters collaboration, innovation, and business growth.

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What they’re saying

“If you have kids or elderly parents who are in a nursing home, there's a good chance they've taken a product from us, because 30 percent of all the oral liquids in U.S. come from us.”

— Brandon Rockwell, President and Chief Operating Officer, PAI Pharma

“When it comes to oral liquids in the U.S., PAI is number one in what we do, producing 30 percent of these products. And almost all of it is made here in Greenville, S.C.”

— Brandon Rockwell, President and Chief Operating Officer, PAI Pharma

“The life sciences industry makes South Carolina competitive, it is creating high-wage jobs, developing breakthrough treatments and technologies, and attracting top talent with its acclaimed academic and research institutions.”

— James Chappell, President and CEO, SCbio

What’s next

PAI Pharma plans to increase its investment in automation over the next few years to improve the efficiency and capacity of its manufacturing process.

The takeaway

PAI Pharma's success as a leading producer of liquid medications highlights South Carolina's growing life sciences industry, which is attracting investment, creating high-wage jobs, and supporting the state's workforce development.