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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: 2870

BMS, J&J, Bayer lead 25,000+ pharma layoffs in 2024; Amylyx, FibroGen, Kronos Bio hit by trial failures, cash crunch

Since 2022, there has been a significant surge in layoffs by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. While this trend continued into 2024, the industry showed signs of stabilization in the last four months of the year with the pace of layoffs slowing down. Nonetheless, 2024 was a challenging year. Data compiled by PharmaCompass indicates that over 25,000 layoffs were announced in 2024, driven by economic pressures, failed clinical trials, and strategic pivots. Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson led the layoffs with about 2,300 job cuts each. Bayer announced elimination of 1,800 positions. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 (Free Excel Available) US, Europe, China bear brunt of job cuts; Big Pharma hands pink slips to 10,000 Over 190 biopharma companies announced layoffs in 2024. The year began on a grim note — 27 firms announced significant job cuts in January 2024. By the yearend, Big Pharma alone had contributed more than 10,000 layoffs to the year’s total of over 25,000. Novartis announced over 1,200 job cuts in 2024. It eliminated 330 jobs after it acquired German biotech MorphoSys through the closure of sites in Munich and Boston. Similarly, Bayer announced significant reductions at its US and Swiss facilities. North America saw increased retrenchments, especially at biotech hubs such as Boston, San Diego, and New Jersey. Massachusetts, with Boston and Cambridge as the epicenter of US biotechnology, saw around 4,000 layoffs, with companies like Relay Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, and Takeda driving the numbers. In San Diego, workforce reductions by Takeda, and Bavarian Nordic collectively resulted in over 900 job losses, significantly impacting the local biotech ecosystem. New Jersey was subject to broader restructuring efforts with BMS and Bayer contributing nearly 1,500 layoffs. The impact in Europe was equally severe. Germany, home to some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, saw over 2,500 layoffs as Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim scaled back operations. Novartis’ decision to shut down its Munich site added hundreds more to the tally. In Switzerland, Idorsia eliminated 270 positions. Dutch biotech UniQure reduced its workforce by 65 percent (around 300 jobs). That included the sale of a Massachusetts manufacturing facility to Genezen. Denmark also felt the strain, with Leo Pharma cutting 250 roles as part of a strategic revamp. China emerged as another focal point of workforce reductions in 2024. Global pharmaceutical giants, such as Merck and Johnson & Johnson, restructured their operations in response to market complexities in the region. Local companies such as Connect Biopharma, which is transitioning to a US-focused company, also scaled back their presence in the country. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Amylyx, FibroGen, Lyra, Athira drastically reduce staff over setbacks in clinical trials Clinical trial failures were one of the most significant drivers of layoffs in 2024. For instance, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals faced a devastating blow when its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapy, Relyvrio, failed a confirmatory trial. This led to a 70 percent reduction in its workforce, leaving only 100 employees from the 384 full-time staff reported at the end of 2023. The company’s decision to pull the therapy from the market compounded the layoffs. BioMarin Pharmaceutical had to reduce its workforce, as it streamlined its pipeline in response to trial challenges. In August, the company announced a reduction of 225 employees, citing “organizational redesign efforts”. These layoffs followed 170 redundancies announced earlier in May. FibroGen, once considered a leader in oncology drug development, was among the most heavily impacted. The high-profile failure of its anti-CTGF antibody in two late-stage cancer trials led to the discontinuation of its lead candidate, resulting in a 75 percent reduction in its US workforce. Lyra Therapeutics also implemented a 75 percent workforce reduction, affecting 87 employees, after its chronic rhinosinusitis program struggled. Similarly, Athira Pharma cut 70 percent of its team after its Alzheimer’s candidate failed a phase 2/3 trial. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Cash crunch, mergers compel Kronos Bio, Editas, Vincerx, Gilead to downsize In addition to clinical failures, funding constraints played a pivotal role in reshaping the biotech landscape. Kronos Bio stood out as one of the hardest-hit firms, cutting 21 percent and 83 percent of its existing workforce in March and November, respectively, as it sought to divest assets and conserve cash. Editas Medicine’s inability to secure partnerships for its sickle cell program forced the company to revert to preclinical research, resulting in a 65 percent workforce reduction. The trend of scaling back R&D pipelines was particularly evident among biotechs struggling to advance preclinical programs to clinical trials. Boundless Bio and Senti Bio exemplified this, choosing to focus on a handful of promising candidates, while reducing discovery efforts. Consolidation often results in overlapping roles, leading to inevitable workforce reductions. Apart from the MorphoSys layoffs by Novartis, Vincerx Pharma faced job losses after it got acquired by Oqory (a clinical-stage ADC company). Vincerx had to cut its workforce by 55 percent. Amid ongoing reorganization efforts, Gilead closed its Seattle, Washington (US), office and laid off 72 employees of its subsidiary Kite Pharma. Gilead also announced that its Kite facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US), would close by mid-2025. That was followed by 104 additional layoffs at its California headquarters. In April, it had cut 58 jobs in California. Gilead also announced that its Kite facility in Philadelphia would close by mid-2025. Vir Biotechnology reduced its workforce by 25 percent (i.e. 140 layoffs) to focus on its hepatitis program, and GlycoMimetics let go of 80 percent of its workforce after the FDA demanded an additional clinical trial for its leukemia treatment. Meanwhile, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reduced its workforce by 60 percent after it stopped commercial operations and transitioned back to being a clinical stage company. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our view It takes decades to build innovation ecosystems. The concentration of layoffs in major biotech hubs has raised concerns about the potential long-term impact on these ecosystems. In 2025, the key challenge will be to maintain the momentum of innovation, as organizations operate with a leaner workforce and a more focused pipeline.

Impressions: 6825

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: 3496

BMS, Bayer, Takeda, Pfizer downsize to combat cost pressures, meet restructuring plans

Over the last two years, there has been a significant surge in layoffs by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The trend spilled over to 2024. Data compiled by PharmaCompass indicates that between January and early-September, around 150 companies had implemented layoffs. Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) tops the list of companies that downsized, with a staggering 2,284 job cuts. Bayer stood second at 1,816 retrenchments, followed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals at 1,155. Johnson & Johnson’s spin-off Kenvue is slashing over 1,000 jobs this year, while Roche subsidiary Genentech is cutting 529 positions, and Novartis is going ahead with its multi-year restructuring, and cutting another 770 jobs. One of the primary drivers of layoffs has been the need for companies to streamline operations and reduce costs. Many firms have faced financial pressures due to reasons such as declining revenues, increased competition, and the high costs associated with drug development. The current wave of layoffs has encompassed geographies – from traditional pharma strongholds like New Jersey, biotech hubs in Massachusetts and California, to Europe (particularly Germany and Switzerland). This is not to suggest that job cuts are a norm. Certain segments have been experiencing substantial growth and job creation. This includes companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that have experienced remarkable growth due to the efficacy of their glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of drugs that treats type 2 diabetes and obesity. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 as of Sept. 7 (Free Excel Available) BMS cuts 2,284 jobs to meet cost targets, Bayer hands pink slips to 1,816 employees Several large drugmakers have announced job cuts this year in order to meet their cost cutting goals, or as part of their restructuring exercise. BMS’ revenue had declined from US$ 46.2 billion in 2022 to US$ 45 billion in 2023. The financial pressure has compelled it to cut 2,284 jobs so far in this year, a move that sent shockwaves through the industry. Overall, BMS hopes to save approximately US$ 1.5 billion in costs by 2025 through this “strategic productivity initiative”. In Europe, Swiss-based companies like Novartis and Roche have announced substantial job cuts, while Bayer is reducing its workforce globally. Bayer is laying off 1,816 employees worldwide, including 150 in Basel, Switzerland. A majority of these are management roles as the German drugmaker seeks to target € 500 million (US$ 557 million) in cost savings in 2024 and € 2 billion (US$ 2.23 billion) in 2026. Japanese drugmaker Takeda plans to eliminate 1,155 positions, including 324 jobs in San Diego and 641 in Massachusetts. Takeda is also winding down production and R&D operations in Austria, resulting in 190 job losses. Starting next month, Genentech, a Roche subsidiary, will lay off 93 employees in San Francisco. Earlier this year, Genentech trimmed roughly 3 percent of its workforce across several departments, impacting 436 employees. Roche also laid off around 340 employees in its product development team. Novartis has been undergoing a significant restructuring exercise since 2022, when it announced 8,000 job cuts in its global workforce. This year, it announced an additional 770 job cuts in its product development organization, separate from the previous reductions. Once again, it was workforces in Switzerland (440 job cuts) and US (269 job cuts) that bore the brunt. Tylenol and Band-Aid maker Kenvue, which spun off from J&J last year, announced plans to cut 920 jobs, representing about 4 percent of its global workforce. Additionally, the company will lay off 51 employees in New Jersey and 84 in California. These layoffs are part of Kenvue’s efforts to adjust its cost structure and become more competitive. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 as of Sept. 7 (Free Excel Available) Perrigo, Emergent Bio, Catalent, BioMarin trim workforces amid strategic shifts Several mid-size companies too are under tremendous cost pressures, with some of them feeling the need to reinvent themselves for the future. In February this year, Perrigo had embarked on ‘Project Energize’, a three-year initiative aimed at boosting organizational agility and achieving long-term success. As part of this project, Perrigo is cutting costs and laying off 6 percent of its staff, which translates into nearly 550 employees. CDMO-turned-biopharma Emergent BioSolutions plans to reduce its workforce by about 300 employees. The Maryland-based multinational is closing its Baltimore-Bayview drug substance manufacturing facility and its Rockville drug product facility in the state. Rare disease biotech BioMarin laid off 395 employees globally, about 12 percent of its workforce, as part of “organizational redesign efforts” to prioritize its new strategy with its hemophilia A gene therapy Roctavian and to preserve cash. Drug-delivery specialist Catalent has also been significantly impacted by restructuring efforts ever since it announced 1,100 layoffs in December. It had then attributed its fall in revenue to declining Covid-related sales, but had also noted that future GLP-1 manufacturing revenues could help stabilize its finances. True enough — it subsequently announced that it is in the process of being acquired by Novo Nordisk’s parent company for US$ 16.5 billion. However, Catalent reported reducing its headcount by an additional 300 in the fourth quarter of 2023. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 as of Sept. 7 (Free Excel Available) Pfizer job cuts continue to trickle in; Lykos, Lyra downsize after pipeline setbacks Clinical trial failures and financial constraints have also played a significant role in this year’s wave of layoffs. At Pfizer, job cuts continued to trickle in, with some estimates putting the number at 1,500 employees in 2024. These include 285 at its vaccine R&D site in New York, and 52 in San Francisco. The Comirnaty maker also pulled the plug on a long-anticipated, near-complete Seagen drug manufacturing plant in Everett, Washington. About 120 employees at the site were let go. It has been a tumultuous time for Lykos Therapeutics, following the US Food and Drug Administration’s rejection of its MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. Lykos announced laying off 75 percent of its staff (i.e. 75 employees). Its founder, who had spent 38 years working on the therapy, left the company and so did its CEO. However, Lykos has not given up and has roped in a Janssen veteran as senior medical advisor to get the therapy past the finish line. Similarly, Lyra Therapeutics is laying off 75 percent of its workforce (i.e. 87 employees) following disappointing late-stage results for its implant to treat chronic rhino-sinusitis. The retrenchments include its chief technology officer. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Biopharma Layoffs in 2024 as of Sept. 7 (Free Excel Available) Our view Technology, regulatory and pricing pressures are shaping strategies of pharmaceutical companies. The drive to do more with less could accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation in drug discovery and development processes. The employment landscape is certainly evolving. We foresee significant changes in the skills required for pharmaceutical and biotech careers, with a growing emphasis on data science and computational biology.

Impressions: 3468

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: 2892

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: 4105

NEWS #PharmaBuzz

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Drugs in Development

01 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Cellulose

Therapeutic Area : Cardiology/Vascular Diseases

Highest Development Status : Approved FDF

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : JeNaCell

Deal Size : Inapplicable

Deal Type : Inapplicable

Evonik Company JenaCell Launches Wound Dressing Epicite® Balance for Chronic Wounds

Details : epicite® balance is made of biosynthetic cellulose, a hydropolymer for innovative medical device applications. The dressing enables superior wound cleansing effects and reactivates the healing of slow-healing wounds.

Product Name : Epicite® Balance

Product Type : Other Large Molecule

Upfront Cash : Inapplicable

July 14, 2023

02 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Cellulose

Therapeutic Area : Cardiology/Vascular Diseases

Highest Development Status : Approved FDF

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : JeNaCell

Deal Size : Inapplicable

Deal Type : Inapplicable

Evonik Company JeNaCell Launches Wound Dressing Epicite® Balance for Chronic Wounds

Product Name : Epicite® Balance

Product Type : Other Large Molecule

Upfront Cash : Inapplicable

June 13, 2023

03 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Bupivacaine

Therapeutic Area : Neurology

Highest Development Status : Phase II

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : Allay Therapeutics

Deal Size : Inapplicable

Deal Type : Inapplicable

No Opioids After Surgery: Evonik Invests in Allay Therapeutics and Supplies Key Technology for Pai...

Details : ATX-101 is a small product placed directly into the TKA surgical site in a simple, ‘place & go’ manner designed to add minimal extra complexity and time to the procedure.

Product Name : ATX-101

Product Type : Other Small Molecule

Upfront Cash : Inapplicable

December 13, 2022

04 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Vonoprazan Fumarate,Amoxicillin Trihydrate,Clarithromycin

Therapeutic Area : Infections and Infectious Diseases

Highest Development Status : Approved FDF

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : Phathom Pharmaceuticals

Deal Size : Undisclosed

Deal Type : Agreement

Evonik and Phathom Pharmaceuticals Partner to Produce Novel Acid-Blocker Vonoprazan

Details : Vonoprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB). It inhibits gastric acid secretion by acting as a reversible competitive inhibitor against potassium ions.

Product Name : Voquezna Triple Pack

Product Type : Other Small Molecule

Upfront Cash : Undisclosed

October 24, 2022

05 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Undisclosed

Therapeutic Area : Infections and Infectious Diseases

Highest Development Status : Undisclosed

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : BARDA

Deal Size : $220.0 million

Deal Type : Funding

Evonik Invests US$220 Million in Partnership with The U.S. Government to Build New Lipid Productio...

Details : Lipids, molecules that make up the building blocks of living cells, are critical to producing mRNA-based drugs. The mRNA is enclosed in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) composed of specific lipids. The LNP protects the mRNA and delivers it safely into the cell...

Product Name : Undisclosed

Product Type : Undisclosed

Upfront Cash : Undisclosed

February 06, 2022

06 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Tozinameran

Therapeutic Area : Infections and Infectious Diseases

Highest Development Status : Approved FDF

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : BioNTech

Deal Size : Undisclosed

Deal Type : Partnership

Evonik Strengthens Strategic Partnership with Biontech on Covid-19 Vaccine

Details : Lipids are fundamental to produce highly effective mRNA-based vaccines. Only with an increase in lipid supply can the volume of vaccine be further increased. This move marks an expansion of the partnership between Evonik and the Comirnaty, vaccine manufa...

Product Name : Comirnaty

Product Type : Vaccine

Upfront Cash : Undisclosed

November 02, 2021

07 Evonik

Germany

Evonik's CDMO solutions for APIs and HPAPIs: It specializes where the client needs it most!

Lead Product(s) : Simufilam

Therapeutic Area : Neurology

Highest Development Status : Phase II

Partner/Sponsor/Collaborator : Cassava Sciences

Deal Size : Undisclosed

Deal Type : Agreement

Evonik and Cassava Sciences Join Forces to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease

Details : Evonik to supply commercial quantities of simufilam, a drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Simufilam is a novel drug, discovered at Cassava Sciences, that targets both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Product Name : PTI-125

Product Type : Other Small Molecule

Upfront Cash : Undisclosed

September 03, 2021