ICE Pharma DMF, CEP, Written Confirmations, FDF, Prices, Patents, Patents & Exclusivities, Dossier, Manufacturer, Licensing, Distributer, Suppliers, News

ABC Farmaceutici Opens New Warehouse in Ivrea

16 May 2025

// PRESS RELEASE

Opening of a new warehouse in ICE Japan site

12 Feb 2025

// PRESS RELEASE

ICE Pharma / Sustainability Report

30 Jan 2025

// PRESS RELEASE

DATA COMPILATION
#PharmaFlow

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Website

CPhI WW Frankfurt

Booth #9.1A94

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envelop Contact Supplier

DIGITAL CONTENT

1 Interview #SpeakPharma, 7 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight, 5 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow, 34 News #PharmaBuzz

media
1 Interview #SpeakPharma
7 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight
5 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow
34 News #PharmaBuzz

ACTIVE PHARMA INGREDIENTS

16 All APIs, 3 USDMF, 10 CEP/COS, 2 JDMF, 2 EU WC, 3 KDMF, 1 NDC API, 10 Listed APIs

16 All APIs
3 USDMF
10 CEP/COS
2 JDMF
2 EU WC
3 KDMF
1 NDC API
10 Listed APIs

INTERMEDIATES

4 All Intermediates

4 All Intermediates

KEY PRODUCTS

Chenodeoxycholic Acid, Cholic Acid, Deoxycholic Acid, Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Chenodeoxycholic Acid
Cholic Acid
Deoxycholic Acid
Ursodeoxycholic Acid

SERVICES

API Manufacturing, Drug Product Manufacturing, API & Drug Product Development

pharmaServices
API Manufacturing
- 1 GMP Manufacturing
- 1 Oligosaccharides & Polysaccharides
Drug Product Manufacturing
- 1 Liquid
- 1 Tablet
API & Drug Product Development
- 1 API Development
- 2 Formulation Development

EXCIPIENTS

1 All Excipients, 1 USDMF, 7 Listed Products

excipientPortfolio
1 All Excipients
1 USDMF
7 Listed Products

EXCIPIENTS BY INGREDIENTS

Sodium Cholate Excipient, Sodium glycocholate excipient, Sodium taurocholate excipient, Glycocholic Acid Excipient, Sodium Taurodeoxycholate excipient, Lithocholic acid Excipient, Sodium Deoxycholate Excipient

excipientsByIngredients
Sodium Cholate Excipient
Sodium glycocholate excipient
Sodium taurocholate excipient
Glycocholic Acid Excipient
Sodium Taurodeoxycholate excipient
Lithocholic acid Excipient
Sodium Deoxycholate Excipient

EXCIPIENTS BY APPLICATIONS

Surfactant & Foaming Agents, Emulsifying Agents, Parenteral, Solubilizers

excipientsByApplications
Surfactant & Foaming Agents
Emulsifying Agents
Parenteral
Solubilizers

INSPECTIONS & REGISTRATIONS

3 FDA, 9 EDQM, 1 GDUFA

inspections
3 FDA
9 EDQM
1 GDUFA

ICE Pharma offers a unique range of bile acid products and best-in-class services for the pharmaceutical industry.

About

ICE Pharma's core business includes the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, the most important of which is Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA), used to treat liver diseases and gallstones. The company develops and manufactures a range of bile acid derivatives that are used as excipients, nutraceutical ingredients, cell culture media, and intermediates. ICE Pharma also provides contract manufacturing services for liquid and solid finished dosage forms for branded and generic products. Since October 2019, ICE Pharma has been owned by Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors.

CPhI WW FrankfurtCPhI WW Frankfurt

Industry Trade Show

Booth #9.1A94

28-30 October, 2025

Frankfurt
CPhI IndiaCPhI India

Industry Trade Show

Exhibiting

25-27 November, 2025

India Expo Centre, Greater Noida
APGA Annual ConferenceAPGA Annual Conference

Industry Trade Show

Not Confirmed

20-23 July, 2025

Traverse City, MI

CONTACT DETAILS

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Country

Italy

Address

Via Novi, 78, 15060 Basaluzzo AL

Telephone

+39 0522551250

sales@icepharma.com

Website

https://www.icepharma.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ice-pharma/

YouTube

Digital content

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INTERVIEW #SpeakPharma

"ICE is pioneering sustainability, innovation in bile acid research for neurodegenerative diseases"

This week, SpeakPharma interviews Roger Viney, Chief Commercial Officer of ICE Pharma, a world-leading manufacturer of specialty biliary acid products with a focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, and a strong company culture. Viney discusses the company’s ambitious sustainability targets, and its exciting research into bile acids’ potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, and a strong company culture ICE Pharma has set four strategic pillars to guide its sustainability efforts. Can you tell us what these four pillars are and how they contribute to the long-term resilience of the business and its supply chain? In 2022, we developed a comprehensive long-term sustainability strategy, accompanied by a short-term roadmap to guide our actions over the next three years. This outlines the strategic choices that will define our way forward and details the progress we are making against our roadmap. Our sustainability strategy is designed to bolster the long-term resilience of our business and supply chain, provide a source of fulfillment for our employees and enable our customers to continue developing and delivering treatments for hepatic and neurological diseases, as well as other conditions that respond to bile acid-based therapies. By contributing holistically to a healthier society and environment, our strategy aims to create long-term value. We aim to maximize our positive impact on health by opening our Biliary Acid Library of potential new molecules to further the development of these treatments. Additionally, we strive to reduce our environmental footprint by creating products with fewer raw materials, diversifying the animal sources we use, and exploring new plant-based bile acid derivatives. We have established clear targets along four strategic pillars, supported by robust ESG governance and leadership. Firstly, we are committed to fighting illness through product innovation. By providing innovative, safe, and high-quality pharmaceutical ingredients, we help our customers build a healthier society. Secondly, we focus on accelerating sustainable operations by monitoring and reducing our emissions, energy, and water consumption through robust ESG processes and accountability. Thirdly, we prioritize building strong relationships by managing our supply chain transparently, fostering strong supplier relationships, and adhering to responsible business practices. Lastly, we are dedicated to caring for people by cultivating a transformational and inclusive culture that ensures the well-being and development of our employees. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// Biliary Acid Library of potential new molecules / robust ESG governance and leadership / manage our supply chain transparently ICE Pharma has committed to an ambitious sustainability plan. Can you elaborate on specific targets it has set to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the use of renewable energy? Also, what significant investments have ICE made or plans to make to support these goals? ICE’s carbon footprint aligns with industry standards in the pharmaceutical and API sectors in terms of GHG emissions. We have set an internal target that is challenging yet achievable and aligned with our business objectives – a 20 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions (majorly energy-related) and a 30 percent reduction in Scope 3 emissions (from solvents, reagents, and animal byproducts used as raw materials) by 2033. We plan to achieve these targets through two main approaches. For electric power, we aim to achieve 100 percent renewable energy utilization by 2030, and we are well on track to achieve this. We are heavily investing in renewable sources, either through sourcing green energy or through in-house investments in photovoltaic (PV) systems at our factories. Fortunately, the significant growth in installed renewable capacity across all geographies where we operate makes this goal both achievable and financially sustainable. However, a substantial portion of our energy consumption comes from generating heat involved in our processes. To counter this, we are focusing on energy efficiency, targeting over 90 percent of our energy consumption to be covered by ISO 50001 standards, and investing heavily in more efficient technologies. For Scope 3 emissions, our efforts are concentrated on further developing our processes to reduce the amount of chemicals used, improve our yields, and switch to animal-source raw materials with a smaller carbon footprint. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// internal target that is challenging yet achievable / 100 percent renewable energy utilization by 2030 ICE Pharma highlights its strong company culture as one of the secrets to its success. Can you speak on how you foster a collaborative and respectful work environment, and how these efforts contribute to the company’s overall success? At ICE Pharma, we place great emphasis on building a collaborative and respectful work environment, recognizing it as a key driver of innovation and success. Our culture is fostered by our Cultural Pillars: Unity, Evolution, and Achievement. These pillars shape our approach in several key areas. Firstly, we value diversity and inclusion. Operating across different cultural contexts and geographies, we have gathered a diverse range of ethnicities. We actively ensure that all voices are represented. This promotes a culture where everyone is respected for their unique perspectives. Secondly, recognizing employee contributions is fundamental to our approach. ICE Pharma celebrates achievements and milestones, ensuring that employees feel valued. We also support professional development and personal growth of employees through initiatives such as secondments and international mentoring programs, and financial support for excellence training courses. This creates motivation and loyalty, reinforcing a positive company atmosphere. Thirdly, we understand the importance of work-life balance. We promote policies that allow employees to maintain a healthy equilibrium between their professional and personal lives, with a special focus on parenthood. This respect for individual well-being translates into a happier, more engaged workforce. By fostering these values, we create a work environment that drives productivity, encourages innovation, and strengthens the company’s overall success. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// value diversity and inclusion / recognize employee contributions / understand the importance of work-life balance Considering the unique properties of bile acids, can you discuss how ICE Pharma is leveraging its technology to develop innovative drug delivery systems for emerging therapies or to address challenges with existing medications? We are thrilled about the expanding role of bile acids in medicine. ICE Pharma holds a unique position, being deeply involved in fundamental research, developing new bile acids, bringing them into clinical trials, and manufacturing generic medicines based on these compounds. Recent research has highlighted the role of bile acids as metabolic regulators, revealing their potential to treat a variety of diseases. They have emerged as an excellent class of molecules for targeting metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Bile acids are now known to act on several nuclear receptors, and it is becoming clear that their signaling properties are complex and extend beyond the FXR and TGR5 receptors, where most current research is focused. One particularly exciting area of interest is the potential of bile acids in treating neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with the Ferrier Institute, we have contributed to research on Parkinson’s disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-documented mechanism in both sporadic and familial Parkinson’s disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been identified as a bile acid that enhances mitochondrial function in multiple in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease. Our studies indicate that modified novel bile acid molecules could lead to the development of more efficacious treatments that improve mitochondrial function and overall cellular health, presenting promising new therapeutic options for Parkinson’s disease. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// potential of bile acids in treating neurodegenerative diseases / contributed to research on Parkinson’s disease / present promising new therapeutic options Given ICE Pharma’s commitment to the highest quality and regulatory compliance standards, can you elaborate on how the company ensures that these standards are consistently maintained, especially when dealing with the complexities of animal-derived products? At ICE, we place great emphasis on controlling pathogens in our animal-derived products, ensuring safety and quality throughout the entire supply chain, from the collection of bile to the finished product. The bile is sourced exclusively from authorized countries, and each production batch is meticulously traced to certify that every animal has been raised and sacrificed according to specific guidelines. The initial step in bile processing involves a treatment that certifies the product as TSE/BSE Free. This is followed by at least two additional stages, based on experimental studies conducted by specialized laboratories, which are effective in inactivating viruses. Intermediates and the final product are handled in closed cycles or in contamination-controlled areas (ISO-8 cleanrooms). Beyond these fundamental aspects, ICE is deeply committed to keeping its dossiers up to date with the latest guidelines and constantly monitoring trends in analytical data to ensure consistent product quality. Where possible, we enhance this quality through a change control plan carefully managed by our Quality Assurance team. Staff training, predictive and preventive maintenance plans, equipment qualification, and process validation are crucial activities involving the entire workforce with the support of the Quality Unit. Our commitment to continuous improvement drives us to focus on digital globalization to ensure ever-greater transparency and reliability in the data that supports our work. As John Ruskin said, “quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.” We continue to follow this philosophy in our daily commitment. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// bile is sourced exclusively from authorized countries / each production batch is meticulously traced / ensure ever-greater transparency and reliability

Impressions: 2304

CORPORATE CONTENT #SupplierSpotlight

Product List 2025

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Corporate Presentation

GMP Certificate 2024

Corporate Video

Achievement

Continuous Evolution

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DATA COMPILATION #PharmaFlow

CDMO Activity Tracker: Veranova, Carbogen lead ADC investments; Axplora, Polfa Tarchomin, Famar expand European footprint

During the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) made substantial investments in specialized therapeutic manufacturing. The quarter also saw CDMOs pursue high-value, complex manufacturing niches, particularly in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), cell and gene therapies (CGTs) and oligonucleotides.Alongside these trends, Q2 also saw CDMOs strengthen their footprint in the United States amid concerns over rising tariffs and unpredictable trade policies being enforced by the Trump administration.Regeneron Pharmaceuticals committed over US$ 3 billion through a 10-year agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to nearly double its US manufacturing capacity for biologics. Under this agreement, Fujifilm will manufacture and supply drug products for Regeneron at its large-scale facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina.Thermo Fisher Scientific announced plans to invest an additional US$ 2 billion in the US over four years, reinforcing its manufacturing and R&D capabilities. With 64 facilities spread across 37 states, Thermo Fisher aims to bolster American innovation and competitiveness. Similarly, Piramal Pharma announced a US$ 90 million investment plan for expanding two facilities in the US, thereby bringing its total investment in the country to US$ 570 million. View CDMO Activity Tracker for Q2 2025 (Free Excel Available)Veranova, Carbogen lead ADC wave; Axplora doubles down on HPAPI production in ItalyThe quarter saw substantial investments in ADC manufacturing. Veranova announced a US$ 20 million investment in bioconjugation development and cGMP manufacturing capacity at its Devens, Massachusetts campus. With this investment, Veranova will be able to provide a more comprehensive suite of services to its partners developing ADCs and other bioconjugates. Veranova’s total investment in the Devens facility now stands at over US$ 50 million. Swiss CDMO Carbogen announced a US$ 31 million co-investment with an unnamed Japanese investor to expand its capabilities across its Aarau and Neuland (Switzerland) facilities. The facility will address increasing demand for complex and high-value compounds such as ADC drug linkers.Axplora announced a further €35 million (US$ 41 million) expansion of its Farmabios site in Italy, doubling the facility to approximately 108,000 square meters by mid-2026. This investment raises its total spend on the site to over €80 million (US$ 94.05 million) since 2019, supporting the production of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs). Farmabios now stands as a key hub in Axplora’s global CDMO network.Polish pharmaceutical manufacturer Polfa Tarchomin is positioning itself as a significant player in the European CDMO market through its investment in the Center for Development and Production of Highly Potent Drugs. This 12,000 square meter facility has two state-of-the-art production lines designed for filling vials and pre-filled syringes with an annual capacity of 26 million product units.Skyepharma’s projected annual revenues from oncology-linked activities touched €10 million (US$ 11.2 million). The CDMO’s facility in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier is equipped to handle cytotoxic and cytostatic compounds, and is one of the few facilities in France capable of managing HPAPIs for oral anticancer treatments. View CDMO Activity Tracker for Q2 2025 (Free Excel Available) Athena acquires Medipha Santé, Famar buys MiP Pharma’s German site to strengthen European footprintDuring the quarter, several CDMOs enhanced their strategic capabilities through M&As. Athena Pharmaceutiques acquired Medipha Santé to build a fully integrated pharmaceutical services platform in Europe. Based in Paris, Athena has strengthened its commercial and regulatory toolbox by bringing aboard Medipha Santé’s 35-strong team, which supports over 100 partner organizations and files approximately 350 dossiers annually with ANSM and other European agencies. With this integration, Athena positions itself as a one-stop CDMO partner.With the acquisition of MiP Pharma’s sterile manufacturing site in Homburg, Germany, the Famar Group has expanded its capabilities in aseptic and lyophilized fill-and-finish operations. The acquisition has strengthened Famar’s position in sterile drug manufacturing. The CDMO now has seven manufacturing facilities in Europe.PCI Pharma Services’ acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea has established a world-class, large-scale manufacturing hub in the San Diego region with state-of-the-art aseptic facilities for prefilled syringes, cartridges and high-potent formulations such as ADCs. PCI Pharma is now amongst the few US-based CDMOs capable of comprehensive ADC manufacturing.Samsung Biologics’ strategic spinoff of its biosimilar business stood out as a significant corporate restructuring exercise during the quarter. The separation of Samsung Bioepis, tentatively renamed Samsung Epis Holdings, aims to enhance Samsung Biologics’ strategic focus and build client trust, as it eliminates potential conflicts between CDMO services and proprietary drug development. The move came after Samsung Biologics inked a contract worth 737.3 billion Korean won (US$ 518 million) with an undisclosed US pharmaceutical company.WuXi Biologics announced a US$ 167 million divestment of its German facility to Terumo and broke ground on a microbial production plant in China. National Resilience, which was launched five years ago as the US drug manufacturer dedicated to broadening access to medicines and protecting biopharma supply chains, said it is shuttering six of its 10 facilities. The company said the sites were “not being fully utilized.” View CDMO Activity Tracker for Q2 2025 (Free Excel Available) MilliporeSigma, Simtra form 5-year ADC alliance; Silexion partners Catalent for siRNA developmentMerck KGaA’s MilliporeSigma and Simtra struck a five-year strategic alliance, combining expertise across the ADC value chain to reduce development timelines and complexity for biopharmaceutical companies. Viralgen collaborated with Trogenix to rapidly scale product supply for TGX-007, an AAV gene therapy for glioblastoma (a type of cancer of the brain and spinal cord). Silexion announced a collaboration with Catalent for small interfacing RNA (siRNA) development and manufacturing. Catalent’s Limoges (France) facility will conduct formulation development and clinical manufacturing for Silexion’s SIL204 candidate, supporting both systemic and intra-tumoral delivery formulations.Skyepharma’s collaboration with Eneapharm through the Skyehub platform aims to support the treatment of patients suffering from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, including those affected by cystic fibrosis or pancreatic cancer. Orion Corporation reached an agreement with Shilpa Biocare for the distribution of recombinant human albumin in Europe.Meanwhile, Aenova announced the launch of its Aenovation program, an initiative designed to fast-track early development of pharmaceutical formulations. The program addresses the critical challenges of bioavailability and time-to-market faced by poorly soluble drug candidates. View CDMO Activity Tracker for Q2 2025 (Free Excel Available) Our view The quarter saw CDMO developments mimic the broader trends in the pharmaceutical industry, such as onshoring of critical manufacturing capabilities in the US, consolidation of specialized expertise through strategic partnerships, and the relentless focus on emerging therapeutic modalities that promise to transform patient care. With CDMOs continuing to invest in next-generation manufacturing capabilities, we expect the sector to play a crucial role in drug innovation.

Impressions: 1153

Excipient Market Overview: Roquette announces restructuring post IFF Pharma buyout; WHO, FDA advance regulatory frameworks

The pharmaceutical excipients market saw significant strategic consolidations, technological developments, and regulatory adaptations in 2025. Globally, the pharmaceutical excipients sector is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 percent, and was valued at US$ 8.85 billion in 2024. It is projected to reach US$ 14.77 billion by 2032.This year, the sector is witnessing technological advancements, regulatory evolution, and strategic business realignments. North America continues to dominate the global excipients landscape, with a 39.8 percent market share. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing segment with a substantial 30.4 percent market share, driven by increasing investments in pharmaceutical manufacturing, growing demand for cost-effective drugs, and rising healthcare expenditure across developing economies.Major excipient providers include BASF, Merck KGaA owned MilliporeSigma, Gangwal Healthcare, DuPont, Evonik, Seqens, Actylis, SPI Pharma, PMC Isochem, Croda International, Pfanstiehl, Kewpie Corporation, Boai NKY Pharmaceuticals, ICE Pharma, Roquette, Nanjing Well Pharmaceutical, Minakem, Ashland Global, Anhui Ribobay Pharmaceutical and Nippon Fine Chemical. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2025 (Free Excel Available)Roquette restructures after buying IFF Pharma; Colorcon partners ASHA CelluloseIn May, Roquette completed its acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions. Valued at up to US$ 2.85 billion in enterprise value, this transaction represents a major consolidation in the pharmaceutical excipients market. The acquisition significantly enhances Roquette’s ability to deliver high-value drug delivery solutions to pharmaceutical customers worldwide. Roquette announced a comprehensive, new organizational structure following the acquisition, indicating the company’s commitment to integrate IFF Pharma Solutions’ capabilities seamlessly into its existing operations. This consolidation creates a more robust platform for addressing the growing demand for specialized excipients in complex drug formulations, particularly as the industry moves towards more personalized approaches to medicines.So far, the year has also witnessed some strategic alliances, such as Colorcon’s partnership with ASHA Cellulose. As part of the deal, Colorcon will become the exclusive representative for two ASHA products — ASHACEL and ASHAKOTE — throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.Brenntag Specialties has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with MEGGLE Excipients to expand market reach. This collaboration makes available a broad portfolio of over 30 high-quality lactose-based excipients for various applications in the pharmaceutical industries across the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.The portfolio’s versatility offers optimal solutions for a wide range of pharmaceutical applications, including tableting through both granulation and direct compression, powder preparations, and dry powder inhalation. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2025 (Free Excel Available)WHO, FDA drive new standards with GMP guidelines; Pfanstiehl launches injectable-grade glycineIn March, the World Health Organization had put out a publication titled “Good Manufacturing Practices for Excipients used in Pharmaceutical Products.” WHO’s excipient GMP guideline emphasizes modern quality management principles, comprehensive risk assessment protocols, and supplier qualification procedures for excipients across all stages of production, storage, and distribution.Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed amendments to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as part of its FY 2025 legislative proposals, specifically targeting supply chain transparency for high-risk excipients. The FDA proposal would require certain excipients designated as high-risk to carry labeling that identifies the original manufacturer’s name and address. This initiative addresses what FDA has identified as a lack of transparency in excipient supply chains.In April, IFF Pharma Solutions launched Low Nitrite METHOCEL hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). This innovative product is specifically designed to reduce the risk of nitrosamine formation in finished pharmaceutical dosages, addressing one of the most pressing concerns in contemporary pharmaceutical manufacturing.Pfanstiehl, a global leader in high-purity excipient manufacturing, announced the launch of its High Purity Low Endotoxin Low Metals (HPLE-LM) injectable-grade glycine. This multi-compendial glycine is specifically engineered for use in biologics, vaccines, and the downstream purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Manufactured under ICH-Q7 cGMP regulations at Pfanstiehl’s advanced facility in Waukegan, Illinois, the product meets stringent global pharmacopeial standards. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2025 (Free Excel Available)Shin-Etsu Chemical invests in Japan, Germany to expand cellulose productionIn March, Shin-Etsu Chemical announced investments in pharmaceutical cellulose business operations in Japan and Europe, thereby showing significant commitment to market expansion. The company is making substantial investments at two key bases: the subsidiary SE Tylose GmbH in Germany, and the Naoetsu Plant in Joetsu, Japan. In Germany, a new production facility for the pharmaceutical excipient L-HPC will be built adjacent to the existing facility, creating a dual base with the Naoetsu Plant. The excipients market in 2025 has seen innovation in functional applications. Research on BENEO’s Palatinose as a bedtime drink shows that it improves aspects of sleep and represents an innovative approach to excipient functionality. Palatinose is a naturally sourced, smart carbohydrate that provides full carbohydrate energy in a more balanced way, thanks to its low-glycemic profile.Gangwal Healthcare, with its EXCiPACT-certified GMP facilities and a robust portfolio of co-processed excipients like ProBlend, Starlose, and Microlose, is actively contributing to the pharmaceutical industry’s demand for functional excipients. The company also offers cellulose-based excipients such as Solvostar (Sodium Starch Glycolate) and Sallyso (Croscarmellose Sodium), designed to improve tablet disintegration and drug release profiles in oral solid dosage forms.Evonik announced a partnership with South Korea–based CDMO ST Pharm to expand its RNA and nucleic acid delivery services. This collaboration enables Evonik to integrate customized nucleic acids from ST Pharm seamlessly with its lipid and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development and fill-and-finish services. This streamlined approach means that pharmaceutical companies can reduce complexity and increase speed-to-market for nucleic acid therapeutics. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2025 (Free Excel Available)Our viewThe pharmaceutical excipients market in 2025 is being shaped by several key trends including the development of multifunctional excipients that can simultaneously improve solubility, bioavailability, and control drug release in increasingly complex formulations.Moreover, the expanding generic medicines market is creating demand for cost-effective, versatile excipients. The growing importance of biologics and biosimilars is driving innovation in specialized excipients designed to maintain the stability and efficacy of these complex therapeutic products throughout their lifecycle. And nanotechnology continues to enable advanced nano-excipients for enhanced drug delivery and efficacy.In addition to these trends, we also notice a shift towards natural and plant-based excipients that is driven by sustainability concerns and potential biocompatibility benefits.

Impressions: 2850

CDMO Activity Tracker: Bora, PolPharma make acquisitions; Evonik, EUROAPI, Porton announce technological expansions

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) space continued to grow at an impressive pace in the second half (H2) of 2024, with significant progress being made across cell and gene therapies (CGTs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), novel drug modalities, and digital solutions.Some of the key players in the CDMO space include Lonza, EUROAPI, Evonik, SEQENS, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Quotient Sciences, Axplora, PolPharma, and Famar from Europe; Mission CDMO, LGM Pharma, Veranova, and Thermo Fisher from the US; and Samsung Biologics, Bora Pharmaceuticals, and Porton Pharma Solutions from Asia. Texas-based Mission CDMO has been in the pharma industry for over 75 years. Today, it is known for its comprehensive contract services and high-quality manufacturing capabilities that have reinforced its position as a trusted partner. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available)Bora, PolPharma drive CDMO acquisitions; Samsung Biologics clocks over US$ 4 bn in contract valueThe second half of 2024 saw several high-value acquisitions and expansions that reshaped the CDMO landscape. South Korea-based Samsung Biologics clocked a cumulative contract value of over US$ 4 billion. It signed its largest manufacturing deal with an Asia-based pharmaceutical company, valued at US$ 1.24 billion. It also announced a series of manufacturing deals with a European drugmaker worth over US$ 668 million. Samsung Biologics is also building a dedicated ADC facility that is likely to be complete soon. Taiwan’s largest CDMO, Bora Pharmaceuticals, announced its second acquisition of the year. It bought New Jersey-based Pyros Pharmaceuticals, a developer of rare disease treatments. Pyros recently launched Vigafyde, the only ready-to-use vigabatrin oral solution and the first new product approved to treat infantile spasms in 15 years. Bora also announced a strategic investment in Tanvex Biopharma, thereby creating a global platform for biologics development and supply.PolPharma acquired Ziołolek, a renowned manufacturer of dermatological products, medical devices, and OTC medicines, thereby expanding its product portfolio. It also launched a state-of-the-art HPAPI (highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients) facility in Poland, which is being seen as another step towards securing Europe’s drug supply chain.In other developments, Avid Bioservices got acquired by funds managed by Ampersand and British healthcare investment firm GHO Capital Partners in an all-cash deal worth US$ 1.1 billion. And Agilent Technologies agreed to acquire Canadian specialty CDMO Biovectra for US$ 925 million, thereby enhancing its capabilities in gene-editing technologies and sterile fill-finish services. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Evonik, EUROAPI, Porton Pharma, GSK announce tieups, technological expansionsSeveral CDMOs announced new collaborations and acquired new capabilities to enhance their service offerings. Evonik expanded its formulation capabilities for lipid nanoparticles used for mRNA and gene therapies through a collaboration with KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte. This partnership aims to expand Evonik’s portfolio of biosolutions.Evonik is also restructuring its keto and pharma amino acid business to focus on strategic core growth areas. Evonik launched Eudracap colon functional capsules for targeted delivery of oral drugs. These ready-to-fill capsules are designed to release their contents specifically in the colon, improving the efficacy of treatments for various gastrointestinal conditions. Evonik also opened a new facility for drying aqueous dispersions of Eudragit polymers in Darmstadt, Germany. This facility will enhance Evonik’s capabilities in producing high-quality polymers for pharmaceutical applications.EUROAPI launched a new AI-powered Electronic Batch Record solution in collaboration with Aizon to enhance manufacturing productivity. This collaboration aims to digitize operations towards more data-driven manufacturing, focusing on small-scale productions and highly flexible plants.Porton Pharma Solutions has expanded its reach through several strategic initiatives. In October, Porton entered into a partnership with Shanghai InnoStar to enhance its service offerings beyond small molecules, targeting peptides, oligonucleotide drugs, conjugated drugs, and advanced therapies. It continued to grow its capabilities by enhancing its GMP manufacturing capacity in Fengxian, Shanghai (China). The facility’s expansion is aimed at increasing the production of novel therapies, including peptides and oligonucleotide drugs. These moves are part of Porton’s broader strategy to position itself at the forefront of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.Corden Pharma is investing € 900 million (US$ 985 million) over the next three years to expand its peptide platform facilities in Colorado (US) and Europe. While the US site will help meet the rising demand for GLP-1 peptides, in Europe, CordenPharma will construct a greenfield facility for small to large-scale peptide development and manufacturing.CDMO Touchlight signed a licensing agreement with GSK that grants the drug behemoth non-exclusive rights to use Touchlight’s proprietary enzymatic doggybone DNA (dbDNA) technology for the development and production of mRNA-based products, particularly vaccines. Curia also integrated enzymatic dbDNA solutions through a collaboration with Touchlight, enhancing mRNA production for vaccine and cancer therapies. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Lonza, Merck, Dr. Reddy’s owned Aurigene invest in cell and gene therapiesThe CGT space continued to draw both deals and investments. Lonza and Vertex signed a long-term commercial supply agreement for Casgevy, the world’s first CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited cell therapy, to treat sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. This agreement includes manufacturing at Lonza’s Geleen (the Netherlands) cell therapy manufacturing facility, with plans to expand to Portsmouth, New Hampshire (US).Miltenyi Biotec began manufacturing lentiviral vectors for Adaptimmune’s Tecelra, the first engineered TCR T-cell therapy for the rare soft tissue cancer synovial sarcoma approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Merck KGaA commenced commercial production at its first GMP-compliant manufacturing line for cell culture media (CCM) in China. This facility addresses the growing local demand for quality custom CCM used in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and novel therapeutics.Aurigene and Edity Therapeutics announced a strategic collaboration in cell therapy, with Aurigene providing cell therapy discovery services to support Edity’s clinical development. Additionally, Aurigene and its parent, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kainomyx for the development and commercialization of an affordable anti-malarial drug. ProBio and UCI Therapeutics signed an MoU for a comprehensive collaboration in gene delivery technologies, including viral and non-viral approaches. Additionally, Korea’s VaxCell-Bio partnered with ProBio to accelerate the development of its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-related therapies.The ADC market continued to be a hotbed of innovation and strategic expansion. Merck KGaA invested € 70 million (US$ 75 million) to triple its ADC manufacturing capacity at its Missouri (US) facility, aiming to support the rising demand for oncology therapies.Sterling Pharma entered into a partnership with GlycoNex to support the clinical trials of their ADCs that target solid tumors. And, NJ Bio and Charles River Laboratories also announced a collaboration to optimize ADC manufacturing.The adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector field also saw activity with Rentschler Biopharma and Forge Biologics announcing the launch of a new service offering and a manufacturing platform, respectively. Similarly, Andelyn Biosciences was selected by Hubble Therapeutics to manufacture clinical grade AAV.Meanwhile, Lonza has gone in for a restructuring exercise in order to become a “pure-play CDMO”. It has exited its capsules and health ingredients business, and adopted a new organizational structure. The Swiss CDMO has also extended a collaboration with a major global biopharmaceutical partner for commercial-scale manufacture of ADCs. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our viewAs pharmaceutical development becomes increasingly complex, CDMOs are no longer just manufacturing partners, but critical innovation hubs. Little wonder then that 2024’s biggest pharma deal was in the CDMO space – Novo Holdings’ US$ 16.5 billion buyout of Catalent. This trend should gather momentum. We expect more M&A activity in this space in 2025.

Impressions: 3478

Excipient Market Overview: Roquette, Seqens, Evonik make strategic moves; new guidelines deal with contamination

The pharmaceutical industry has long recognized the critical role excipients or inactive ingredients play in drug formulation and delivery. Excipients can comprise up to 90 percent of a medicine's total ingredients and serve crucial functions as binders, disintegrants, coatings, preservatives, colors, and flavorings. According to recent market research, the pharmaceutical excipients market was valued at US$ 9.27 billion in 2023. It is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03 percent and is projected to reach US$ 18.48 billion by 2032. The main factors driving market growth is an increased demand for multifunctional excipients, coupled with the expanding use of generic medications. The development in the biologics sector and advancements in nanotechnology are also contributing significantly to market growth. Major excipient providers include BASF, Evonik, Merck KGaA owned MilliporeSigma, Gangwal Healthcare, Roquette Frères, DuPont, Croda International, Seqens, Boai NKY Pharmaceuticals, PMC Isochem, Minakem, Kewpie Corporation, Ashland Global, SPI Pharma, Pfanstiehl, Nanjing Well Pharmaceutical, ICE Pharma, Anhui Ribobay Pharmaceutical and Nippon Fine Chemical. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2024 (Free Excel Available) WHO, India’s CDSCO tighten regulations; new GMP guidelines implemented to curb contamination Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a health alert linking at least 300 child deaths in the Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia to the ingestion of contaminated cough syrups containing unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). In response to the tragic events, the WHO released two draft appendices to its guideline on good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for excipients this year. Manufacturers are now required to use suitable risk assessment tools to identify and mitigate potential hazards. Since India-made cough syrups had been linked to the deaths, India’s drug regulator — Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) — took steps to prevent contamination, and advised drugmakers to only use pharmaceutical-grade excipients from approved sources. Furthermore, the Indian Health Ministry proposed amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to include details of excipients on drug labels. While listing all excipients on every strip of medicine may be challenging, the ministry suggested mentioning those causing hypersensitivity on the label. Applicants now mandatorily need to submit evidence of stability and safety of excipients. These regulatory developments have significant implications for excipient manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Leading pharmaceutical excipient firms like Gangwal Healthcare, Sigachi Industries, and Nitika Pharmaceuticals are well-positioned to meet these heightened quality and safety standards, given their long-standing commitment to producing high-quality, compliant excipients. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Roquette buys IFF’s pharma unit for US$ 2.85 bn; Evonik opens new spray-drying facility in Darmstadt In a significant industry move, France-based Roquette entered into an agreement to acquire IFF's pharma solutions business in a deal valued at US$ 2.85 billion. This acquisition is set to rebalance family-owned Roquette’s portfolio around health and nutrition. The deal is expected to accelerate Roquette’s growth and significantly strengthen its presence in the excipients market. Evonik has opened a new facility for drying aqueous dispersions of its Eudragit polymers at its site in Darmstadt, Germany. The facility will help Evonik meet increasing demand from drugmakers for its oral drug delivery solutions. The plant uses green energy solutions. The company has also partnered University of Mainz to commercialize a new class of polyethylene glycols (PEG) lipids for nucleic acid delivery. Evonik’s Health Care business has been growing its nucleic acid drug and vaccine delivery portfolio. Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz was the first to develop randomized polyethylene glycols (rPEGs). This collaboration aims to expand Evonik’s toolbox of technologies for nucleic acid-based medicines, offering an improved immunogenicity profile for lipid nanoparticle carriers used in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Asahi Kasei made significant strides in addressing a pressing industry concern that emerged in 2018 when potentially carcinogenic nitrosamine impurities were detected in several pharmaceuticals. Guided by regional authorities, such as the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, the pharmaceutical industry has been carrying out extensive assessments and research to identify the cause of these impurities. In response to this challenge, Asahi Kasei developed its Ceolus microcrystalline cellulose with extremely low nitrite levels. The Japanese company achieved nitrite concentrations of 0.1 micrograms per gram or less, which is equivalent to 0.1 parts per million (ppm). The company also started full commercial operation of its second manufacturing facility for Ceolus in Japan, enhancing supply capacity and stability. JRS Pharma and Gujarat Microwax opened a state-of-the-art cotton-based croscarmellose sodium plant in Mehsana, Gujarat (India). This facility aims to produce high-quality excipients that meet global standards, potentially reducing India's dependency on imports and boosting its presence in the global excipient market. The Indian excipient industry accounts for less than 1 percent of the global market share. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Seqens to advance innovative polymer; biologics, personalized medicine create demand for specialized excipients Recent industry collaborations highlight the ongoing innovation in novel excipients. France’s Seqens, with over 20 years of polymer development experience, was chosen by Pleryon Therapeutics to advance its leading osteoarthritis candidate – an innovative GMP polymer. This collaboration leverages Seqens’ newly expanded and modernized cGMP plant in Aramon, France, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities for novel excipients. The rise of biologics and personalized medicine has created a demand for specialized excipients capable of stabilizing complex molecules and enabling targeted drug delivery. Roquette’s launch of Lycagel Flex, a hydroxypropyl pemix for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical softgel capsules, exemplifies this trend. Built on Roquette’s market-first Lycagel pea starch technology, this plant-based alternative to gelatin offers manufacturers the flexibility to customize formulations for a range of production and end-user needs. The innovative pea starch foundation also underscores the industry’s move towards sustainable bio-based excipients. The trend towards patient-centric drug development has also influenced excipient innovation. Excipients that can improve palatability, ease of swallowing, or enable novel dosage forms (such as orally disintegrating tablets) are in high demand. For example, IFF brought a super disintegrant Ac-Di-Sol, that supports faster disintegration and drug dissolution in oral disintegrating tablets, improving patient experience. View Our Dashboard on Major Excipient Companies in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our view The heightened regulatory scrutiny on excipients due to product contamination incidents has created a high risk perception and uncertainty around the regulatory acceptance of novel excipients. That said, novel excipients are central to the development of new drug modalities and therapies. Going forward, sustainability will also become an increasingly important factor in excipient selection and development. As the industry innovates towards biologics, personalized therapies, and patient-centric formulations, the role of high-quality, multifunctional excipients will only grow more vital in ensuring drug stability, bioavailability, and patient compliance. Companies that can navigate the complex regulatory landscape, invest in R&D, and offer high-quality, multifunctional excipients will be well-positioned to succeed in this evolving market.

Impressions: 2880

CDMO Activity Tracker: Novo’s parent buys Catalent for US$ 16.5 bn; Fujifilm, Merck KGaA, Axplora expand capabilities

During the first half (H1) of 2024, the global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) landscape was driven by the escalating demand for complex drug development and manufacturing.With the industry grappling with constantly evolving therapeutic modalities, CDMOs are racing to invest in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure to meet the growing needs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.Some of the key players in the CDMO space are Catalent, EUROAPI, Lonza, Axplora, Thermo Fisher, SEQENS, Samsung Biologics, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Quotient Sciences, Famar, LGM Pharma, Veranova, and Evonik. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available)Novo’s parent buys Catalent for US$ 16.5 bn; Bora, Lonza, Siegfried expand US footprintDuring H1 2024, several European and Asian drugmakers expanded their footprints in the US. In February, Novo Nordisk’s parent company, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, announced the acquisition of Catalent through its investment arm Novo Holdings for US$ 16.5 billion. Novo Holdings plans to sell three of Catalent’s “fill-finish” sites to Novo Nordisk for US$ 11 billion. The deal is expected to allow the Danish drugmaker “to serve significantly more people living with diabetes and obesity,” a company statement said.Taiwan-headquartered Bora Pharmaceuticals forged ahead with its expansion plans in the US market by acquiring Minnesota-based generics manufacturer Upsher-Smith Laboratories. Emergent BioSolutions said it is selling its Maryland facility to an affiliate of Bora. This site in Camden is part of its CDMO, Emergent Bioservices, and offers clinical and commercial non-viral aseptic fill/finish services on four fill lines, including lyophilization, formulation development, and support services.Swiss drugmaker Lonza has agreed to acquire Genentech’s manufacturing facility in California, US, from Roche for US$ 1.2 billion in cash. The site, located in the city of Vacaville, is one of the largest biologics manufacturing facilities in the world by volume.Lonza also launched an artificial intelligence-driven route design technology for choosing the optimal synthetic pathway to manufacture novel APIs.Switzerland’s Siegfried is acquiring a Wisconsin (US)-based CDMO that specializes in early-phase development and manufacturing services from Curia Global to strengthen its capabilities in North America. Siegfried will further develop the site into its North American Siegfried Acceleration Hub for early-phase CDMO services. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) Merck Millipore, SK Bioscience lead CGT boom; Fujifilm, Axplora, expand CDMO capabilitiesThe burgeoning field of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) is driving significant investments in CDMOs. CGTs saw considerable deal-making too. Merck KGaA agreed to buy Wisconsin-based Mirus Bio for US$ 600 million. Mirus Bio is a specialist in the development and commercialization of transfection reagents that are used to help introduce genetic material into cells. These reagents play a key role in the production of viral vectors for CGTs.Similarly, South Korea’s SK Bioscience acquired a 60 percent stake in IDT Biologika GmbH for KRW 339 billion (US$ 244 million). IDT Biologika is a 104-year-old German company that ranks among the top 10 vaccine producers in the world.CDMOs are also expanding their capabilities in order to lead innovation for their pharmaceutical partners. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is investing US$ 1.2 billion in its large-scale cell culture CDMO business to further expand its end-to-end bio-manufacturing facility in North Carolina, bringing the total investment in the facility to over US$ 3.2 billion. Similarly, Merck KGaA owned MilliporeSigma made its biggest investment in the Asia-Pacific region in March when it invested € 300 million (US$ 327 million) in a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon, South Korea.German CDMO giant Axplora is investing € 8 million (US$ 8.73 million) to expand capacity for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) payload manufacturing at its Le Mans site in France. Catalent completed upgrades to its capsule filling capabilities of dry powders for inhalation to handle potent drugs at its Boston facility. This now positions Catalent as the CDMO with the largest GMP capacity for capsule spray-dried and carrier-based inhaled powders.LGM Pharma increased its Analytical Testing Services (ATS) by 50 percent with a US$ 2 million investment and introduced new suppository manufacturing capabilities to its CDMO portfolio. Minakem has invested in a new production unit in Montreal, Canada, for steroid APIs. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) EUROAPI kicks off four-year sweeping plan; LegoChem partners Samsung Biologics for ADC programSanofi’s spinoff EUROAPI marked 2024 as a “transition year”, setting in motion its Focus-27 plan for profitable growth in the future. The sweeping four-year plan includes a streamlined value-added portfolio focused on highly differentiated and profitable APIs, and a CDMO focused on late-stage and high-value complex small molecules and tides supported by unique technological platforms. The leading French small molecules player signed a five-year collaboration with Ireland’s Priothera wherein EUROAPI will develop and industrialize the manufacturing process of an innovative, complex molecule for blood cancers – mocravimod. The project will be carried out at EUROAPI’s site in Budapest, which is its center of excellence for complex chemistry.South Korea’s CDMO powerhouse Samsung Biologics has partnered LegoChem Biosciences and will provide antibody development and drug substance manufacturing services as a part of LegoChem’s ADC program designed to treat solid tumors. LegoChem aims to submit an investigational new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of 2025. Aurigene and Vipergen have joined forces to offer DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening for drug discovery. By combining Aurigene’s drug discovery capabilities with Vipergen’s DEL screening technologies, they seek to create a powerful tool that can quickly test over a billion small-molecule compounds against different disease targets. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’ company Aurigene also inaugurated its biologics facility spread across 70,000 square feet.Chinese biotech startup Pleryon is collaborating with France’s SEQENS, a leader in specialty ingredients, to develop and manufacture the former’s lead candidate, an innovative polymer to treat osteoarthritis. Famar is collaborating with Lavipharm and will serve as the contract manufacturer for the latter’s recently added analgesic pharmaceutical products — Lonarid N and Lonalgal. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our view Key trends observed in H1 2024 include a surge in investments for fill-finish facilities, a growing emphasis on cell and gene therapies, and advancements in ADC manufacturing. With the proliferation of these new classes of drugs, the CDMO space has been rapidly changing in recent years. In the future, the integration of digital technologies, such as AI and automation, will be a key differentiator for CDMOs looking to optimize their operations and accelerate drug development timelines.

Impressions: 4092