The API and ingredients maker says as part of an expansion plan to grow its specialised formulation capabilities, it has bought a facility in Loures, Portugal from generic pharmaceutical company Generis, which it intends to refurbish and incorporate with its ongoing operations.
“The overall investment which includes the acquisition, refurbishment and new equipment will amount to $10m (€8.8m),” António Dinis, Hovione’s Director of Marketing and Communication, told this publication.
“We plan to totally refurbish the facility and create new oral and inhalation formulation development labs, analytical labs and production areas.”
While the site will be mostly fitted with existing Hovione production equipment, Dinis said the most important addition will be a small volume precision capsule filling machine with appropriate containment systems to handle highly potent compounds.
Integration and Expansion
“This facility will be integrated into our Loures site in Portugal, Hovione’s largest,” he continued. “With this investment Hovione wants to offer its customers the option to get their clinical supplies or small volume commercial supplies from the same site where they already produce their API or solid dispersion.
“This facility will also complement our inhalation franchise allowing us to go end to end from the device to the final dosage.”
The news is the latest in a series of expansions for the Portuguese ingredient maker. Earlier this month, the Portugal-based ingredient supplier announced it was investing in its API facility in New Jersey, adding capabilities to handle highly potent compounds.
And in July, the firm increased its spray-drying capacity at the Loures plant by 20% through the addition of a new unit capable of producing between 50 and 200 metric tons per year.