Manufacturing expansions round-up
Biopharma Technology Ltd (BTL) says its new standalone cleanroom with freeze drying R&D (research and development) capabilities will cut time and costs.
The new suite includes a range of characterisation and analysis equipment as well as a pilot-scale freeze dryer, allowing for small scale production runs for cytotoxic products.
Commercial director Laura Ciccolini said by providing an efficient platform, it is easier to cut costs for freeze drying – used to stabilise high value products.
“When freeze drying cycles are inefficient they become long and costly,” she said.
“This is why many developers choose to partner with an organization specializing in this field. However there are a limited number of companies with this expertise, and few have the capability to handle cytotoxic compounds.”
The UK-based firm is now offering the tech to SMEs as well as Big Pharma.
Jubilant Life Sciences has launched a 300-acre special economic zone (SEZ) for the chemical industry in Gujarat, India.
The launch follows a 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gujarati Government as part of its drive to boost development of chemical manufacturing facilities in the area.
Indian-based Jubilant will produce Vitamin B3 and 3-Cyanopyridine on a global scale from the facility, making it the largest producer of the supplement in the country. The firm said it has plans for more facilities on the SEZ in the pipeline.
Hari Bhartia, co-chairman and managing director, said Government backing made the move an obvious one.
He said: “Gujarat being the natural choice to set up this facility, we are thankful to the State Government under the leadership of the Honorable Chief Minister, for their constant encouragement, guidance and support.”
Omkar Speciality Chemicals (OSCL) has broke ground on plans for a $20m (€15.2m) speciality API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) factory at in Maharashtra, India.
The firm has traditionally produced speciality chemicals like derivatives of selenium, iodine, molybdenum, cobalt, bismuth, but it recently branched out into the pharma world with the takeover of LASA Laboratory.
Omkar has since produced intermediates for drugsmakers, and CMD Pravin Herlekar said – with the latest investment - the future is pharma for the firm.
“There is a colossal demand in the API manufacturing space, and with Indian drug manufacturing sector gaining international prominence, the acquisition of LASA Laboratory was the right move for our group to venture into the pharma business,” he said.
Genzyme will expand its on-site storage of oxidizing gas at its Northborough, US, facility to support a boom in demand following its acquisition by Sanofi.
The plant will be boosted from 9,000 to 25,000 sq ft, including 6,000 sq ft allocated for oxidizing gas within the warehouse, and 16,000 sq ft of gas cylinders in storage.
Michael Pippos, manager of health and safety at the Northborough Genzyme facility, said the gases will be used in the manufacturing process across all sites.
It is expected the facility will open its doors by the end of the year, with a boosted work force of up to 185 people.
