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SEQENS Personal Care WEBINAR

11 Jun 2025

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CellProthera chooses CELLforCURE by Seqens for Ph 3 Manufactiring

21 May 2025

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SEQENS Explores Floral Innovations in Personal Care

18 Apr 2025

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DATA COMPILATION
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DIGITAL CONTENT

2 Interview #SpeakPharma, 15 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight, 7 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow, 70 News #PharmaBuzz

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2 Interview #SpeakPharma
15 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight
7 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow
70 News #PharmaBuzz

ACTIVE PHARMA INGREDIENTS

124 All APIs, 52 USDMF, 38 CEP/COS, 17 JDMF, 13 KDMF, 47 NDC API, 2 VMF, 67 Listed APIs

124 All APIs
52 USDMF
38 CEP/COS
17 JDMF
13 KDMF
47 NDC API
2 VMF
67 Listed APIs

DEVELOPMENTS

3 Drugs in Development

3 Drugs in Development

KEY PRODUCTS

Baclofen, Cisatracurium Besylate, Clascoterone, Fluralaner, Fluticasone Furoate, Fluticasone Propionate, Glycopyrronium Bromide, Glycopyrronium Tosylate, Ketamine Hydrochloride, Methimazole, Midazolam, Midazolam Hydrochloride, Midazolam Maleate, Olopatadine Hydrochloride, Remimazolam Besylate, Rotigotine, Sparsentan, Varenicline Tartrate

Baclofen
Cisatracurium Besylate
Clascoterone
Fluralaner
Fluticasone Furoate
Fluticasone Propionate
Glycopyrronium Bromide
Glycopyrronium Tosylate
Ketamine Hydrochloride
Methimazole
Midazolam
Midazolam Hydrochloride
Midazolam Maleate
Olopatadine Hydrochloride
Remimazolam Besylate
Rotigotine
Sparsentan
Varenicline Tartrate

SERVICES

Analytical, API Manufacturing, API & Drug Product Development

pharmaServices
Analytical
API Manufacturing
API & Drug Product Development
- 3 Preformulation & Material Science
- 14 API Development

KEY SERVICES

Contract API Manufacturing Services, API Custom Synthesis & Manufacturing, HPAPI Contract Manufacturing, API Spray Drying Services

Contract API Manufacturing Services
API Custom Synthesis & Manufacturing
HPAPI Contract Manufacturing
API Spray Drying Services

EXCIPIENTS

4 All Excipients, 4 USDMF, 5 Listed Products

excipientPortfolio
4 All Excipients
4 USDMF
5 Listed Products

EXCIPIENTS BY INGREDIENTS

Poly-DL-Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid, Poly lactic acid, Poly caprolactone

excipientsByIngredients
Poly-DL-Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid
Poly lactic acid
Poly caprolactone

EXCIPIENTS BY APPLICATIONS

Parenteral

excipientsByApplications
Parenteral

INSPECTIONS & REGISTRATIONS

29 FDA, 31 EDQM, 9 GDUFA

inspections
29 FDA
31 EDQM
9 GDUFA

Seqens is an integrated global leader in pharmaceutical solutions & specialty ingredients, & custom-made solutions to our customers.

About

Since its inception in 2003, Seqens has evolved into a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions and specialty ingredients. With a strong focus on customer support, Seqens assists in the development, scale-up and manufacturing of drug substances from pre-clinical to commercial stages. Seqens boasts a vast portfolio of APIs and proprietary products while also developing custom solutions and ingredients for the healthcare, electronics and cosmetics industries. It operates 16 industrial plants and 9 R&D centers worldwide. Seqens possesses technologies that enable it to produce complex molecules to meet both small- and large-scale demands.

CPhI KoreaCPhI Korea

Industry Trade Show

Not Confirmed

26-28 August, 2025

COEX, Seoul, Korea
ChemOutsourcingChemOutsourcing

Industry Trade Show

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08-10 September, 2025

Parsippany NJ, Hilton
CPhI WW FrankfurtCPhI WW Frankfurt

Industry Trade Show

Booth #11.0C76

28-30 October, 2025

Frankfurt

CONTACT DETAILS

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Country

France

Address

21 Chemin de la Sauvegarde 69130 Ecully

Telephone

+33 426991800

generics@seqens.com

Website

https://www.seqens.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/seqens/

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/@seqens8474

Digital content

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INTERVIEW #SpeakPharma

“We’ve quadrupled our production and added new customers during the pandemic”

This week, Ilan Avni, Vice President, Business Development, Wavelength Pharmaceuticals is back on SpeakPharma. He talks about Wavelength’s imminent merger with SEQENS (slated to close later this year), the company’s performance during the pandemic and its various interesting technological capabilities, such as those in enzymatic chemistry, spray drying and particle engineering solutions. In particular, Avni talks about how the merger with SEQENS will make Wavelength a global leader in the API and CDMO space with 22 production sites and 10 R&D centers across the world. — A year back, we had discussed how Wavelength’s investments in its supply chain has helped the company during the pandemic. Where do things stand today? How has the market changed? Reflecting on the past year and the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, I can say with confidence that our many years of investment in supply chain assurance has paid off. Not only have we been able to reliably supply critical drugs to our customers during the global crisis, we were also able to quadruple our production and supply to many additional new customers and territories, where other players did not have the capability to deliver. Times are changing — more and more pharmaceutical manufacturers and governments are coming to the conclusion that reliable supply is a critical investment for long-term sustainable growth. — How is Wavelength’s merger with SEQENS (slated to close later this year) likely to benefit the company? Do you expect Wavelength’s global standing and market share in the API CDMO space to improve considerably? We are extremely excited about the upcoming merger with SEQENS. We share the same values, focus on quality, regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service. The merger will create a global leader in the API and CDMO space with 22 production sites and 10 R&D centers across the world, and a backward-integrated leader offering a broader portfolio of generic APIs and intermediates as well as custom development and manufacturing services across a wide range of added complementary pharmaceutical technologies. — Wavelength has some interesting technologies. What capabilities have you developed in enzymatic chemistry? And what is Wavelength’s strength in this field? Enzymatic chemistry is an incredibly powerful tool for organic synthesis. It increases conversion efficiency for significantly higher yields with fewer by-products, equating to faster and more cost-effective production. This is largely due to its superior enantio-, regio-, and stereoselectivity under milder conditions, compared to using conventional metal catalysts. We have recently completed validation of a new commercial scale enzymatic process for a leading high-volume type 2 diabetes product with results by far superior to any other process in the market. Our customers are getting ready for commercial launch, and we are confident our product is going to provide them with a game changing advantage in this highly competitive market. We already have several additional products in our pipeline developed using enzymatic chemistry and I believe that with SEQENS’ expertise in developing new tailor-made enzymes and with Wavelength’s expertise in scaling up such processes, we are going to see many more of these products in the market in the very near future. — Tell us about Wavelength’s strength in spray drying. How have customers benefitted from your capabilities? Low aqueous solubility of APIs often translates into poor bioavailability that can be a cause of failure during drug development. As such, improved aqueous solubility is a primary objective of formulation development, especially for oral, inhaled, and topical drugs. The number of poorly soluble small molecule drugs has significantly increased over the years and the demand for spray drying capacity is on the rise. Production slots are booked well in advance, creating bottlenecks that threaten to prolong time-to-market. Wavelength has more than 30 years of proven track record in spray drying and we continue to invest in particle engineering technologies, including current and next-generation spray drying technologies to address solubility and bioavailability challenges for a broad range of therapeutics. We believe this is one of the advanced skills an experienced API CDMO should be able to offer to its customers, especially those looking to develop BCS Class 2 (low solubility and high permeability) and BCS Class 4 (low solubility and low permeability) drugs. — What additional particle engineering solutions have you developed and how is Wavelength using these technologies to solve drug design challenges? We have in-house expertise in various micronization techniques, both for high volume APIs as well as corticosteroids and other highly potent APIs up to OEB5 (OEL<1 μg/m3). Our unique micronization equipment can reduce particle size from 5mm to <5μm in a single pass using ultra-low energy technology with minimum mechanical or heat impact. Therefore, there is no impact on crystalline properties or increase in amorphous content, which is a huge advantage. Wavelength has been supplying various inhalation grade APIs for dry powder inhalers and metered dose nasals for more than 20 years now and many of our customers have selected Wavelength for particle design expertise, although they have the same API produced in-house. — Are there any new technologies you are looking to implement in the near future? Our CDMO business is expanding very rapidly. We continue to focus on complex chemistry and are moving into GMP production of oligonucleotides. We see more and more therapeutic oligonucleotides reaching the market, offering effective treatment to many unmet needs. These are quite large and extremely complex molecules, though still considered “small molecules” from a regulatory perspective. Processes include multiple synthesis steps, protection, cleavage and de-protection, purification, ultrafiltration and lyophilization, which are very much aligned with our manufacturing track record and also a perfect match with our complex analytics expertise. We already have six novel oligonucleotides being tech transferred to commercial scale GMP production, so we are extremely excited about this new field and are looking forward to further expand production capacity to support our customers’ demand. .

Impressions: 1681

CORPORATE CONTENT #SupplierSpotlight

Product List 2025

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Products Under Development 2025

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Intermediates Product List 2023

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Corporate Presentation

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European Industry Summit 2024

GMP Certificate 2024

CDMO Brochure

Drug Delivery Solutions

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Corporate Video 2024

Devens R&D Center Opening - Boston'Lab

New HPAPI Unit in Aramon (France)

CELLforCURE

Essential Drug Substances

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Who is SEQENS?

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: 7556

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: 3176

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: 3699

Chinese FDA-registered generic facilities gain steam, India maintains lead with 396 facilities

Every year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes the user fee amounts it will collect from manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, biosimilars and medical devices in the coming financial year. The fee for fiscal year 2025 under the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) was published on July 31, 2024.The GDUFA, established in 2012, authorizes FDA to assess and collect fees from drug manufacturers to expedite the delivery of safe, high-quality, and affordable generic drugs to the American public.The FDA’s facility payments list under GDUFA reveals that as of November 14, 2024, 1,397 facilities had paid their registration fees for financial year 2025. Of these facilities, 707 or 50.6 percent are active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) facilities, 405 or 29 percent are finished dosage forms (FDF) facilities, 69 (4.9 percent) are facilities that produce both APIs and FDFs, and 216 (15.5 percent) are contract manufacturing services (CMO) sites.Teva Pharmaceuticals, with 29 facility registrations, led the list of companies, followed by Aurobindo Pharma, Sun Pharma, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. Fiscal year Facility Registrations 2016 1,425 2017 1,442 2018 1,269 2019 1,286 2020 1,300 2021 1,340 2022 1,385 2023 1,394 2024 1,447 2025 1,397 Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available)India continues to lead with 396 facilities, US and China follow India maintains its dominance in total facility registrations with the FDA, registering 396 facilities for FY2025. This includes 214 API facilities, 135 FDF facilities, 21 facilities engaged in both API and FDF activities, and 26 CMO facilities.The United States holds the second position with 328 facilities, while China strengthened its third position with 197 facilities.With 214 API facilities, India continues to have the largest share of API manufacturing sites, outmatching the combined total of China (128) and the US (83), which together account for 211 facilities. Among European manufacturers, Italy leads with 59 API manufacturing sites, followed by Spain (30) and Germany (25).The US has maintained its lead in FDF facilities with 143 sites, followed closely by India with 135 sites and China with 45 sites. Country API FDF Both CMO Total India 214 135 21 26 396 US 83 143 13 89 328 China 128 45 12 12 197 Italy 59 3 2 19 83 Germany 25 4 1 15 45 Spain 30 9 1 4 44 Canada 7 17 13 37 Taiwan 9 6 5 4 24 Switzerland 15 4 4 23 France 16 6 22 Japan 18 1 19 United Kingdom 12 1 2 15 Mexico 9 1 1 11 Ireland 5 5 1 11 Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) GDUFA III user fee rates increase across categories for FY25The GDUFA, which was reauthorized on September 30, 2022 (as GDUFA III), continues with provisions that will last until September 30, 2027. In July 2024, the FDA published updated user fee rates for FY2025.The facility fees have seen increases across all categories. API facility fees increased by 3 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 41,580) and 2 percent for foreign sites (to US$ 56,580). FDF facility fees rose by 5 percent for both domestic (to US$ 231,952) and foreign sites (to US$ 246,952). CMO facility fees increased by 5 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 55,668) and 4 percent for foreign sites (to US$ 70,668).Additionally, the fee for large-, medium- and small-sized drug applicants has increased by over 9 percent, compared to the 7 percent increase seen in 2023. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) China leads new facility registrations as FDA records 41 new units in FY25Out of the total 1,397 facilities registered for FY2025, 41 were new registrations (going by Facility FDA Establishment Identifier numbers). China led the way with 13 new facilities, followed closely by India with 11 new facilities, while the US secured the third position with eight new facilities.The new registrations included 15 API facilities, 13 CMO facilities, 12 FDF facilities, and one facility engaged in both API and FDF activities. Chinese companies dominated the new FDF registrations with six facilities: Chengdu Shuode Pharma, Chengdu Suncadia Medicine, Cipla (Jiangsu), GE Healthcare (Shanghai), Luoxin Aurovitas Pharma (Chengdu), and Zhejiang Xianju Pharma.India added two new FDF facilities through Eugia Steriles and Zydus Pharma. Malaysia registered two FDF facilities through Novugen Pharma and Novugen Oncology, while Turkey’s Insud Pharma subsidiary Exeltis and US’ RK Pharma registered one FDF facility each.The 13 new CMO facilities included, Acme Generics, Emcure, Esjay Pharma, Fordoz Pharma, Fourrts Laboratories, Laboratoires KABS, PharmaMax, Quality Packaging Specialists International, Ritsa Pharma, Shanghai Aucyun Pharma, Sichuan Huiyu Pharma, Taejoon Pharm, and Tubilux Pharma.In the API category, the 15 new registrations included Acharya Chemicals, Hainan Poly Pharma, CBL Patras, EUROAPI, Hybio Pharma, Medilux Laboratories, Metrochem API, Purolite, Chengdu Easton Biopharma, Sionc Pharma, Smithfield Bioscience, Xttrium Laboratories, Zhejiang Hengkang Pharma, Moehs Iberica and Shilpa Pharma. Armstrong Pharmaceuticals registered the sole facility for both APIs and FDFs.So far, 92 facilities have not renewed their registration. Among these was a facility owned by Sandoz subsidiary Eon Labs in Wilson, North Carolina (US), which is permanently closed. In fact, the geographical distribution of non-renewals shows that 30 facilities were from the US, while India and China accounted for 14 and nine non-renewals respectively. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) Our viewThe FY 2025 GDUFA facility registration data indicates a continued strong presence of Indian manufacturers in the US generic drug market, particularly in API production. However, China's leadership in new facility registrations, especially in FDF manufacturing, suggests that the global generic drug supply chain landscape may evolve considerably in the coming years.

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US, Europe turn to advanced manufacturing, stockpiling to strengthen drug supply chains

Over the last few decades, the United States and Europe have saved trillions of dollars by importing drugs from countries like China and India. Their journey wasn’t easy, with regulatory non-compliance and drug patent scams raising their ugly heads every now and then. The Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdowns were a wake-up call for these countries to take a long, hard look at their sourcing strategies.Over the last few years, both the US and Europe have embarked on policy changes and ambitious programs to strengthen their drug supply chains. PharmaCompass takes you through US and Europe’s journeys towards more robust pharmaceutical supply chains.Biden’s executive order, CARES Act, state-backed investments strengthen US supply chainDuring the early days of the pandemic, the US government (under former President Donald Trump) had enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to address the economic fallout of the pandemic through a US$ 2.2 trillion stimulus. Through this act, the FDA had taken several drug shortage mitigation efforts. The new administration under President Joe Biden undertook more measures. Notable amongst them was Executive Order 14017 on America’s supply chains. It mandated a comprehensive 100-day review to identify vulnerabilities in key sectors, including pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The review noted that 87 percent of generic API facilities are located overseas, leaving the US healthcare system vulnerable to shortages of essential medicines.Through a Presidential Determination, Biden had also broadened US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) authorities under the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950. HHS can now enable investment in domestic manufacturing of essential medicines and medical countermeasures under the DPA. The HHS has invested US$ 17 billion in domestic manufacturing for the medical supply chain, including US$ 500 million to support API manufacturing.Under this effort, Merck has been awarded a €121 million (US$ 132 million) government contract to set up a lateral flow membrane production facility at Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Similarly, California has launched an initiative (known as CalRx) and is working with CIVICA to make US$ 30 insulin available to all who need it.Europe encourages reshoring; EDQM develops monographs for unlicensed alternativesIn recent years, Europe has faced shortages of insulin, antibiotics, oncology drugs, corticosteroids and even paracetamol. To overcome these shortages, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is encouraging drugmakers to enhance manufacturing capacity and diversify suppliers.There is change visible on the ground. Companies like Midas Pharma, EUROAPI, Seqens are setting up API plants in Europe. Seqens has taken steps to reshore paracetamol production in France and is constructing a new € 100 million (US$ 109 million) production unit in Roussillon. Sanofi is investing €1.3 billion (US$ 1.4 billion) in a new insulin production facility at its existing site in Frankfurt. Similarly, Sandoz has set up a new antibiotic production plant in Austria and a new biosimilar development center in Germany.That said, we know that manufacturing capacities take time to build and are often financially unviable in the developed world. Ergo, a particularly innovative initiative has come from the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM). Their project aims to develop monographs detailing the preparation and testing of unlicensed drugs that can fill the gap left when licensed medicinal products are unavailable. To facilitate this initiative, the European Pharmacopoeia Commission is recruiting experts to verify proposed production methods and analytical procedures.The other means of guarding against supply and demand fluctuations is stockpiling. The EMA has advised the European Commission (EC) and marketing authorization holders (MAH) to stockpile medicines. The regulator has also asked MAHs to establish a shortage prevention plan for critical medicines. Europe’s Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA) is taking a systematic approach to stockpile management.Despite these measures, costs and market structures pose serious challenges. Medicines for Europe, representing the generic and biosimilar medicines industry, has raised concerns about the current market structures. They argue that government purchasing practices, which prioritize obtaining the lowest prices for off-patent medicines, are jeopardizing the European manufacturing footprint and discouraging investments in supply chain resilience.FDA, EMA promote continuous manufacturing; US relies on digital stockpilesDuring the pandemic, there were acute shortages of oncology, cardiovascular, anesthesia, anti-infective, neurological and anti-allergic drugs in the US. A 2022 study undertaken by the Washington University points out that there is excess manufacturing capacity in the US that can be considered for reshoring critical and essential drugs. In fact, 49 percent of generic drug manufacturing capacity in the US is lying idle, and many others are working at less than 50 percent capacity. These capacities can be repurposed. Various advanced manufacturing technologies, such as “continuous flow and on-demand manufacturing capabilities in idled manufacturing sites offer the ability to reduce production cost,” says this report.FDA has been promoting “advanced manufacturing” technologies, such as continuous manufacturing, which are now a part of America’s overall strategy to strengthen and secure the pharmaceutical supply chain. The EMA has also released guidelines on continuous manufacturing of drug substances and drug products. Advanced manufacturing is a collective term for new or innovative medical product manufacturing technologies. Unlike batch manufacturing, which involves sequential processing and testing of material across multiple discrete stages (and often discrete facilities), continuous manufacturing combines the full manufacturing stream into a single, fully integrated flow. While continuous manufacturing may not be suitable for every drug manufacturing process, but where applicable, it tends to eliminate built-in production gaps and shortens the time taken to manufacture a drug from months to days.In the US, the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) plays a critical role in ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies during emergencies. It now also involves a digital stockpile that does not store physical goods and products. Instead, it stores electronic plans, instructions, and methods to make and test medical products. Digital stockpiles rely on one or more trusted suppliers that can make the product from the digital information, either through methods like 3D printing or self-contained distributed manufacturing lines.Our viewThe global pharmaceutical supply chain is a complex web spanning multiple countries and continents. While advanced manufacturing and stockpiling may work to an extent, a large chunk of generic drugs and APIs will continue to come from countries like China and India.In order to reduce reliance on China, the US has been proactively expanding its collaboration with India. But this time, there is increased emphasis on quality control. While FDA is increasing the number of inspections at Indian drug plants, the Indian government, on its part, has revised rules for drug manufacturing, with higher GMP standards.Taken together, a multi-pronged approach to addressing supply chain vulnerabilities should secure drug supplies to the US and Europe in the years to come.

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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.

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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.

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