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The global inhalation contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market is projected to grow from USD 9.13 billion in 2025 to USD 16.68 billion by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, advancements in inhalation drug delivery technologies, and the rising demand for outsourced manufacturing services in the pharmaceutical industry. The inhalation CDMO market has emerged as a pivotal segment in the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing industry. With a rising demand for inhaled therapies for conditions like asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis, companies are increasingly outsourcing drug development and production to specialized partners. Inhalation CDMO services cater to both large pharmaceutical corporations and small biotech firms, offering expertise in formulation, device compatibility, regulatory support, and scale-up manufacturing. This market is gaining traction due to the complexity of inhalation drug delivery, which often requires niche technical capabilities and specialized equipment. Outsourcing to an inhalation CDMO allows drug developers to reduce time-to-market while ensuring quality and compliance with global standards. (...) Top Companies Several players dominate the inhalation CDMO market through technological expertise, global reach, and service portfolio diversity: (...) Hovione – Offers particle engineering and inhalation development, with a focus on dry powder inhalers. (...) These companies are continually investing in facilities, talent, and technology to meet evolving customer needs in the inhalation CDMO market.   Read the full article on Pharmiweb.com        

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Inhalation CDMO Market Growth Analysis & Forecast 2025 to 2035

Jun 25, 2025

Lisbon, Portugal, May 6, 2025 – Hovione, an international integrated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization, and Firstgene Life Sciences, a portfolio company of the Swiss incubator Xlife Sciences AG (SIX:XLS), today announced a strategic collaboration to advance Hovione’s proprietary virus-like particle drug delivery platform for the targeted treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a therapeutic indication developed by Firstgene. Under the terms of the collaboration, Hovione will grant Firstgene an exclusive license to its proprietary novel targeted Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-Like particle technology for the treatment of HCC and will provide preclinical R&D services.  The virus-like particle technology will be engineered and functionalized for the specific carcinoma cell type using therapeutically validated AAVs, including a novel primer compound. Hovione will be responsible for molecular engineering, the supply of tailor-made virus-like particles, and the execution of proof-of-concept studies. “We are thrilled to see our new gene vector particle platform adopted by Firstgene and its forward-thinking leadership team,” said Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer of Hovione. “We are proud to advance the development of innovative oncology treatments that address a critical unmet need for precision gene expression at the tissue level. This partnership is a testament to our mission of turning scientific complexity into real-world solutions that truly make a difference for patients.” “Firstgene is proud to highlight its collaboration with Hovione on this groundbreaking project. HCC, the most common liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death, continues to represent a major unmet medical need. The combination of Hovione’s expertise in complex chemistry and particle engineering and the commercialization expertise of Xlife Sciences positions Firstgene well to offer patients potential new safe and effective therapy options”, said Dr. Alexander Zink, Managing Director of Firstgene Life Sciences GmbH.     About Hovione  Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices. Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards. About Firstgene Firstgene Life Sciences GmbH is a technology-driven biotech start-up located in Mainz, Germany, incubated by Xlife Sciences AG, Zürich, Switzerland. Firstgene aims to deliver innovative treatments for indications with a high unmet medical need and is backed by Xlife Sciences AG, whose expertise is bridging novel innovation to the health care markets.       

Press Release

Hovione and Firstgene announce strategic collaboration to advance virus-like particle platform for liver cancer

May 06, 2025

Pharmaceutical innovators face many challenges when developing new products; as such, getting them to market in a timely, safe and cost-effective way is critical. The use of continuous manufacturing technologies can help to overcome some of the most pressing early-stage obstacles Improving production methods for generic drugs or extending the lifecycle of existing oral solid dosage (OSD) forms is an integral part of the day-to-day operations of many global pharmaceutical companies. At the same time, when formulating new molecular entities, issues such as reducing the cost-per-tablet, increasing patient safety and optimising the price/performance balance of a new drug are common daily concerns. During the early stages of research and development (R&D), however, the availability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is limited. As such, there is an absolute requirement for process equipment that can produce just a few hundred grams of finished product to fast-track novel formulations.  The changing perspectives of regulatory bodies such as the US FDA and EMA now mean that there’s a better way to improve both supply chain efficiency and product throughput. It’s the 21st century, the pharmaceutical industry is less risk-averse these days, and it’s well-known that continuous manufacturing (CM) solutions can accelerate product development, reduce costs, improve operational economics and make production more agile. CM can accelerate the development of innovative products and increase the quality assurance of existing ones by driving process excellence. It’s a more efficient and flexible technology, offering more consistent and reliable tablet production with the reduced use (and loss) of resources such as precious APIs and raw materials. Additional benefits include less downtime and minimal manual intervention.   Introducing ConsiGma® The ConsiGma® portfolio from GEA Pharma & Healthcare is a multipurpose platform that has been designed to transfer powder into coated tablets in development, pilot, clinical and production volumes in a single compact unit. The system can perform the dosing and mixing of raw materials, wet or dry granulation, drying, tableting and quality control, all in one line. And, as it can produce granules continuously, there is no waste during start-up and shutdown and the batch size is determined simply by how long you run the machine. Quality is measured throughout the process and, as such, drastically reduces the cost-per-tablet. The ConsiGma® concept combines Quality by Design (QbD) principles with Design of Experiments (DoE) to explore and optimise a wide range of process parameters with less product in a shorter time frame.  Dr James (Jim) Holman, Senior Director of Technology Management, Pharma Solids, at GEA, takes up the story: “Our stance with CM is consistent in terms of how we approach both commercial-scale and early development work. We’ve created a range of unit operations or submodules, for example, that are ideal for process or product optimisation studies. For wet granulation, for instance, we have the ConsiGma®-1. You can use the same granulator that you would for a larger-scale machine but simply connect it to a single cell of a six-cell fluid bed system.” He adds: “Our approach to R&D is that we try to scale-out rather than scale-up. Our equipment is specifically designed so that you can process a plug or product key in a very controlled way to limit material usage.”  Jim can cite a litany of Big Pharma organisations that have “developed molecules on our systems in R&D, subsequently transferred them to production and have now had them approved for sale and use.” He acknowledges that, compared with a traditional production-scale system, there are advantages and disadvantages to consider. But he emphasises: “To support our thinking and what we’ve done, there are a lot of commercial products on the market that were made using GEA CM systems.”   The ConsiGma®-1: an integrated R&D solution Developed as a mobile, plug-and-play laboratory-scale version of the GEA’s continuous tableting platform, the ConsiGma®-1 can convert powders into dry granules and is ideal for small-scale research and development applications. It’s specifically designed for maximum flexibility and simplicity in early formulation development work. And, because of its rapid processing times and ability to run batches of a few hundred grams up to 5 kg or more, it’s ideal for developing formula and process parameters using DoE — which can then be scaled-out to the full-size ConsiGma® wet granulation system. “With ConsiGma®, we can help companies all over the world to maximise their R&D efforts and capitalise on the very worthwhile expenditure by getting first-rate products to market quicker,” notes Jim. When equipped with the optional fluid bed dryer segment, drying parameters for batch sizes of 500–1500 g can be determined on the ConsiGma®-1. And, because these granulation details can be directly scaled-out to a production model (such as the ConsiGma®-25), which benefits from the same design, there is no scale-up.  Furthermore, as the retention time of the product in the system is minimal, any change in these parameters is almost immediately visible. This allows for very fast and easy exploration of the design space. The result is a better understanding of both operational capabilities and critical process parameters (CPPs), which ultimately contribute to higher levels of quality assurance and patient safety.  The ConsiGma®-1 is designed for rapid deployment, will fit into the most compact of laboratories and can be transported easily to wherever it’s needed. Installation only requires electricity and standard utilities such as water and compressed air. The system is conceived to be a “plug-and-play” installation. To enhance the R&D flexibility even further, the ConsiGma®-1 can also be configured for hot melt granulation and/or upgraded for contained processing. To cite an example, a ConsiGma®-1 unit was recently used to expedite the development process for a new product during in-house trials. Everything was running smoothly during scale-out to a commercial-size line, until one of the raw material sources had to be changed. Anticipating granulation issues due to the changed specifications of the raw material, and with a pending deadline — and not wishing to revert to the ConsiGma®-1 for redevelopment (or to clean another piece of equipment) — it was decided to tackle the issue using the production-scale CM line. Owing to the inherent flexibility of continuous processing and the transferable compatibility of the critical parameters, the correct settings were found in just a few hours using only a limited amount of product. Full production mode could be quickly reinstated with minimal disruption. The ConsiGma® DC for continuous direct compression is the most recent expansion of GEA's portfolio of cost-effective, compact and high-yield manufacturing systems. By integrating four key technologies — accurate loss-in-weight feeding, continuous blending, tablet compression technology and the online measurement of CQAs (Critical Quality Attributes), it offers a robust and flexible production method for a wide range of products in a small footprint. Of note here is that standalone plant is often used to separately test and optimise the critical unit operations before the entire line is constructed, thereby accelerating the process. This means that each manufacturing step can be enhanced without first having to run or invest in a complete process chain. One company that has benefited from this approach is Hovione, a specialist contract development and manufacturing organisation. Using a combination of standalone laboratory scale units coupled with process analytical technology (PAT) tools, computational models and powder characterisation equipment, Hovione is developing processes at the R&D scale with minimal material consumption and resources. The standalone dosing and blending unit is equipped with feeders and blenders that are identical to those used in GEA’s GMP Continuous Direct Compression (CDC) lines. Powder characterisation and the use of compaction simulations “close the circle” in terms of connecting the unit operations and allow operators to fully define the process parameters that are used in a digital twin version of the line. João Henriques, R&D Director – Oral Drug Product Development comments: “This integrated platform accelerates process development, helps to optimise formulation and product parameters and improves operational performance. It also enables the seamless scale-out of continuous tableting processes to a GMP line with reduced risk and low API consumption. This methodology has been used to successfully develop and scale-out multiple processes to CDC lines.”   Coating covered Not only does GEA have what Jim calls “grouped unit operations” for applications such as wet granulation —wherein a twin-screw granulator is combined with a single cell fluid bed — standalone systems such as dosing and blending rigs, an independent feeder and/or continuous coaters are also available. In addition, plant for direct compression can also be supplied. The ConsiGma® DC-LB Lines integrate continuous dry blending using linear blenders and tablet compression into one efficient continuous production system. Being able to accommodate differently sized blenders makes it a fully configurable setup. From an operational perspective, adds Jim, the advantage of the GEA Coater during R&D is that you don’t have to run a full-scale trial with all the associated losses of startup, shutdown, etc. All you need is a 1.5 kg plug and then, to scale-out your production, you just repeat the process. It's the same with wet granulation. Doing so gives you the certainty that you can basically repeat the same operation — or just run it for longer — to achieve commercial levels of production. Jim suggests that a well-known top-tier pharmaceutical company has recently invested in two ConsiGma®-1 units and coaters and is in the process of replacing their existing batch coating equipment with GEA machinery. “It’s now their default choice of coating technology for R&D,” he says. “With the three sizes of coating pans we offer, you have the option of using 1.5, 3.0 or 6.0 kg samples simply scaling that out.”   In conclusion Shining the spotlight on wet granulation as an example application, many of the most well-known names in the pharmaceutical sector have products on the market that were initially tested on a ConsiGma®-1 unit, subsequently transferred to a larger development and launch rig (DLR) and were then put into commercial production. Reaping the benefits of grouped unit operations during R&D enables GEA customers to expedite product development, eliminate scale-up and rapidly transfer the manufacturing process to an integrated line. Plus, by producing tablets continuously, “batch sizes” are simply determined by how long you run the machine.  It’s also helping the pharmaceutical industry to produce higher quality products, enhance drug safety, reduce its industrial footprint and decrease waste, which provides significant advantages to governments, companies and patients alike. Continuous processing is the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing. As Jim will attest, the majority of the top ten pharmaceutical companies have now confirmed that their strategy is to develop both new chemical entities (NCEs) and, when economically and technically viable, also manufacture legacy ethical and generic products using continuous technologies.   Read the full article on ManufacturingChemist.com  

Article

Optimising early-stage drug development with continuous processing

Apr 30, 2025

Investment in Hovione Tejo will expand industrial capacity and strengthen the company’s global leadership in spray drying and other advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies The facility will feature state-of-the-art automation and sustainability solutions, reflecting a commitment to excellence in this industry  By 2026, the site ramp-up will be supported by a dedicated team of approximately 40 members, scaling up to 100 as production begins   Lisbon, March 18, 2025 – The first construction phase of the Hovione Tejo Campus in Seixal has entered its final stage, with commissioning set for mid-2027. Spanning 42 hectares to support future expansions, the site will initially feature two production buildings, one for particle engineering technologies and one for final dosage forms. Facilities will be equipped with cutting-edge automation. With an initial investment of around €200 million, the project will create around one hundred highly skilled jobs, enabling Hovione to expand its industrial capacity and reinforce its global position. With the opening of this new Campus, Hovione will operate five manufacturing sites across three continents: two in Portugal (Loures and Seixal), and one each in Ireland (Cork), the United States (New Jersey), and Macau.  “This new phase of Hovione Tejo´s construction is a major step in the company’s international expansion. By combining state-of-the-art scientific and engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology, this greenfield expansion will enable compliant and efficient manufacturing of complex new medicines for our customers. It will also create numerous direct and indirect qualified jobs, strengthening the pharmaceutical ecosystem in the beautiful region of Seixal. The products manufactured here will be exported worldwide, contributing to improving the health of millions of people”, said Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione.  The two initial production buildings will be complemented by supporting infrastructure such as laboratories, offices, cafeteria and other shared facilities. The new Campus will incorporate advanced sustainability and decarbonization solutions to minimize environmental impact and ensure energy efficiency.  Operations will begin with 40 team members in 2026, increasing to 100 once production starts. “We have assembled a multidisciplinary team, drawing expertise from our entire organization, to design a Campus that sets new standards. It will provide an exceptional environment for our team members, suppliers and customers, conducive to the development of new solutions based on high yield collaborations”, added Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux. About Hovione  Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices. Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.  

Press Release

Hovione’s new campus in Seixal enters final stage of construction. Set to open in mid-2027

Mar 18, 2025

There is somewhat of a consensus in life sciences that there have been significant advancements in improving bioavailability. Solubility, however, continues to elude formulators. Excipients are often lauded as a solution to tackling these challenges, but still do fall short. In a 2020 US Pharmacopeia (USP) survey of drug formulators, 84% said that the current roster of excipients present in approved drug products has imposed limitations on drug development, and as many as 28% experienced a discontinuation of drug development as a result of excipient limitations. Novel excipients may be the answer. In September 2023, the Office of New Drugs and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) launched a voluntary Pilot Program for the Review of Innovation and Modernization of Excipients (PRIME). This program is intended to allow biopharmaceutical manufacturers to obtain FDA review of novel excipients. The development of novel excipients is gaining momentum as pharmaceutical companies seek improved performance and versatility in drug formulations. Novel substances support nanoparticle drug delivery for oncological medications to provide better stability and adoption of medicines. “The invention of novel excipients bearing the amphiphilic and solubilization characteristics in the recent past has helped excipient and drug manufacturers alike to overcome the regulatory barriers for expediting the new drug candidates to market,” says Shaukat Ali, PhD, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs and Technical Marketing at Ascendia Pharmaceutical Solutions. According to a May 2024 USP white paper: “While the FDA PRIME program represents a step in a new regulatory direction for excipients, drug developers are currently reluctant to use novel excipients as there is no independent FDA regulatory pathway outside of its drug application and approval process to review and evaluate the safety and toxicity of an excipient for introduction into a new drug, abbreviated new drug, or non-prescription drug. FDA may determine that novel excipients are not fully supported by the submitted safety data such as for the proposed level of exposure, route of administration, duration of exposure, and patient population. An entire drug application using a novel excipient could be rejected due to uncertainty surrounding acceptance of the excipient by FDA. Considering the barriers to using novel excipients that exist in the normal application process for drug products, USP supports the development of a transparent, independent approval pathway for novel excipients.” This exclusive Drug Development & Delivery annual report explores the use of novel excipients as well as other methods and technologies for tackling bioavailability and solubility once and for all. [...] Hovione: Early-Stage ASDs by Spray Drying Result in Viable Oral Dosage Form Amorphous solids dispersions (ASDs) remain the most used enabling platform for solubility enhancement. There are a variety of molecule structures in the pipeline that require tailored bioenhance­ment, including the common greaseballs as well as chameleonic and brick-dust APIs. “ASDs by spray drying are a versatile platform to formulate across the board,” says Inês Ramos, R&D Manager (Formula­tion Development, Oral Drug Product) at Hovione. For BCS II and IV compounds, bioavailability enhancement is driven by absorption enhancement needs, target product profile, and drug molecular fea­tures. “To maintain a strong focus on man­ufacturability since early-stage, the delivery of a viable ASD oral dosage form follows an integrated approach involving ASD for­mulation screening, particle engineering, drug product formulation and process de­velopment using data-driven tools to ex­pedite development,” says Dr. Ramos. Hovione’s approach relies on a streamlined workflow supported by com­putational tools that starts with a “technol­ogy fitting” to assess the suitability of using ASDs by spray drying. ASD development includes a comprehensive high-through­put formulation screening (ASD-HIPROS™ proprietary platform that includes com­mon polymers and alternative excipients such as the Dispersome® technology), de­signed to fast-track first-in-human (FiH) formulations that are scalable and provide adequate performance. The ASD-HIPROS platform requires a few grams of API and less than eight weeks to narrow down thousands of possible formulations to the most viable candidates. The drug product intermediate is then formulated into a tablet, capsule, or pellets/granules for oral delivery. “This methodology was designed to expedite the delivery of an enabling for­mulation and an industrially viable manu­facturing process,” says Dr. Ramos. “The goal is to maintain performance and en­sure patience compliance.”   Read the full article on Drug-Dev.com  

Article

SPECIAL FEATURE - Bioavailability & Solubility: The Promise of Novel Ingredients

Mar 01, 2025

Why you shouldn’t neglect the importance of blending people, culture, and strategy to foster success in a business. People, customer centricity, and a clear strategy bring strong values to the forefront of every business. Fostering a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction enables team members to bring their best selves to work each day, driving innovation and excellence. Earlier this year, CDMO Hovione demonstrated success by being certified as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute (TEI) across all four of its global manufacturing sites in Portugal, Ireland, the US, and Macau, for the third consecutive year. We spoke to board member and Senior Vice-President of Human Resources at Hovione Ilda Ventura to find out how. What specific strategies and initiatives have you implemented to maintain the company’s Top Employer status?   We started the latest TEI Certification in 2023. Since then, we have been focusing on areas that can differentiate us as employers. In the US, for example, we have invested in bringing more proximity to the HR team, improving our listening strategy and the employee experience. The initiatives span from establishing better alignment between the business strategy and the people strategy, living our values and celebrating our successes. We are accelerating our global growth while strengthening our operations worldwide. It is essential for us to ensure that all our employees, regardless of their location, enjoy a consistent and unified work experience. Having all four of our sites recognized by TEI confirms that we are on the right path. What changes have been made to Hovione's recognition and rewards programs to motivate employees?   By implementing a global job architecture with clear career roadmaps supported by a performance and compensation annual cycle. Everyone is eligible to merit remuneration increases and bonuses, and the corporate results are shared with everyone in a transparent way. This allows us to create a culture of recognition, where individual contributions are valued and aligned with the company's overall success. It fosters motivation and engagement, ensuring employees feel appreciated for their efforts and understand how their work directly aligns with our purpose. This culture not only enhances employee satisfaction, but strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent.  How important is it to monitor consistent employee engagement and satisfaction across global locations?   Our employee engagement survey results are carefully reviewed and discussed both locally and globally, ensuring we address the unique needs of each region while driving company-wide progress. We prioritize actionable improvements that resonate with our teams, engaging cross-functional and geographically diverse groups to implement meaningful change.  Across our sites, we’ve made significant investments tailored to each region while maintaining a unified approach to employee satisfaction. In the US, where employees value transparency, recognition, and growth opportunities, we’ve enhanced communication, feedback channels, and career development pathways. Similarly, in Portugal, Ireland, and Macau, we’ve introduced initiatives to promote collaboration, recognition, and personal growth, ensuring all employees experience a sense of belonging and purpose.  The actions we take are closely monitored, and every improvement is shared openly across all locations, fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and celebration that connects and empowers our workforce.  How are you working to attract and retain top talent in the competitive pharma industry?   We continuously strive to strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice. Participating in TEI allows us to have an independent assessment of our HR efforts and initiatives, ensuring that we are continuously improving and aligning with best practices. In addition, we have robust referral programs in place, supported by the fact that over 70 percent of our employees are strong promoters of the company. This is a testament to the positive culture we’ve built, and we are focused on leveraging this strength to attract and retain top talent.  In what ways does the company communicate and reinforce its core purpose and values among employees?   Our motto is “In it for life” – so, for example, every year we celebrate in each site our “Victory Over Diseases” by communicating the new products that we are manufacturing, as well as the new patents and innovative ideas that contribute to fighting diseases and improving global health. Contributing to saving the lives of billions of people worldwide is a way to motivate our people to challenge themselves and push the limits of innovation. By celebrating our achievements and their impact, we inspire our teams to think creatively, embrace new challenges, and contribute to solutions that make a real difference in the world. It´s an invitation to live our purpose.  Macau was the first site in the region to earn Top Employer certification last year and has renewed it this year. What unique challenges and successes have been experienced in achieving and maintaining this status in Macau?   Macau is unique. It’s the only site in this industry in the territory, so we have taken advantage of that to differentiate ourselves as an employer by collaborating with universities and local authorities to offer career opportunities and benefits that are a reference in the region.  What areas have you identified for continuous improvement in workplace practices and employee satisfaction in the future?   We will continue to strengthen our employee value proposition by mapping the employee journey and addressing every touchpoint to enhance the overall experience. Both people and business needs are constantly changing. It requires continuous adaptation of processes to meet evolving expectations. If I had to highlight one key focus, it would be alumni engagement. The Hovione community is extensive and goes beyond our current team members. We see a clear opportunity to create an alumni program to stay connected with those who have been part of our journey.    Read the full article on themedicinemaker.com    

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The Secret to Being a Good Employer

Feb 13, 2025

Three is the magic number for Hovione as it’s once again been certified as a top employer. For the third consecutive year, all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon, Cork, East Windsor in USA, and Macau - have been certified as Top Employers by the Top Employers Institute. Hovione is an international integrated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organisation. This certification follows, Hovione said, a rigorous audit process. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer, Hovione, explained: “This recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire Hovione team. Hovione is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. “Together, as One Hovione, we are committed to continuously refining our practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step,” Jean-Luc added. Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board, Hovione, said: “This distinction underscores our unwavering commitment to our people. At Hovione, we design our HR systems and processes to ensure that every team member enjoys a consistent and fulfilling experience, regardless of their role, function, or location.” Imelda Cummins, HR Director for Hovione Ireland, said: “This distinguished accreditation is a testament to our commitment to establish frameworks to attract, engage and retain top talent. We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and this recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team who strive every day to foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Receiving the Top Employer accreditation is motivation for us to keep pushing the boundaries of what it means to be an exceptional employer.” Hovione recently celebrated the opening of a multi-million euro expansion at its site in Ringaskiddy, which almost doubled the capacity of its spray drying facilities.   Read the full article on CorkIndependent.com  

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Hovione gets top employer accolade

Jan 22, 2025

Hovione has once again solidified its position as a top employer in all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ, USA), and Macau. The program highlights the company’s significant advancements in several critical areas, including Purpose & Values, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Employer Branding, and Recognition & Rewards, driven by sustained investment in people. This certification from the Top Employers Institute follows a rigorous audit process and underscores Hovione’s consistency in investing in people and world-class workplace practices, as well as the unwavering commitment of its more than 2,300 employees to the company's core purpose and values.  “This recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire Hovione team,” said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer. “Hovione is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. Together, as One Hovione, we are committed to continuously refining our people practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step.” Macau, which became the first company in the region to achieve Top Employer certification last year, has successfully renewed the status, solidifying Hovione’s global leadership in workplace excellence. With its consistent Top Employer recognition, Hovione demonstrates that the talent strategy is perfectly aligned with the business strategy. Watch Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board of Hovione, video about what this certification means for Hovione.   For additional information, please read the press release.  

News

Hovione strengthens its global position as a top employer

Jan 16, 2025

All manufacturing sites - Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ), and Macau - recognized for excellence in workplace practices Significant progress in key areas as Purpose & Values, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Employer Branding, and Recognition & Rewards, driven by sustained investment in people Lisbon, January 16, 2025 - Hovione, an international integrated pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization, has once again solidified its position as a top employer. For the third consecutive year, all four of its manufacturing sites - Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ, USA), and Macau - have been certified as Top Employers by the Top Employers Institute. This certification follows a rigorous audit process and underscores Hovione’s consistency in investing in people and world-class workplace practices, as well as the unwavering commitment of its more than 2,300 employees to the company's core purpose and values. “This recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of the entire Hovione team,” said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer. “Hovione is a development and manufacturing service company operating in one of the most demanding and regulated industries. We understand that our success is deeply rooted in our people. Together, as One Hovione, we are committed to continuously refining our people practices to foster a workplace that inspires motivation and enhances employee satisfaction, so that, every day, our team members bring their best selves to work, driving innovation and excellence at every step.” For Ilda Ventura, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Member of the Management Board of Hovione, “this distinction underscores our unwavering commitment to our people. At Hovione, we design our HR systems and processes to ensure that every team member enjoys a consistent and fulfilling experience, regardless of their role, function, or location. By prioritizing equity and inclusion, we strengthen our differentiated Employee Value Proposition, enriching the journey for both current and future talent.” The Top Employers Institute program highlights the company’s significant advancements in several critical areas, including Purpose & Values, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Employer Branding, Rewards & Recognition, and across all locations. Macau, which became the first-ever company in the region to earn Top Employer certification last year, successfully renewed its status this year, further solidifying Hovione’s global leadership in workplace excellence. With its consistent recognition as a Top Employer, Hovione demonstrates that investing in people is not just a strategy but a cornerstone of its success, driving innovation, collaboration, and excellence across the organization.   About Hovione  Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices. Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards. About Top Employers Institute  Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Program, participating companies can be validated, certified, and recognized as an employer of choice. In 2024, Top Employers Institute has certified more than 2300 organizations in 121 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 12 million employees globally. For more information, please visit www.top-employers.com    

Press Release

Hovione strengthens its global position as a top employer for the third consecutive year

Jan 16, 2025

ViSync® Technologies, a joint venture between Hovione, a global specialist integrated CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, and iBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica), a not-for-profit R&D institution specializing in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, is proud to announce the appointment of Elsa Abranches as its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, ViSync® Technologies was established to address unmet technological needs in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on developing innovative solutions for the cell and gene therapy space. By leveraging Hovione's expertise in pharmaceutical development, particle engineering, and industrialization, alongside iBET’s pioneering research in biotechnological sciences, ViSync® is uniquely equipped to drive innovation in targeted delivery and stabilization of next-generation therapies.  Dr. Elsa Abranches brings over two decades of experience in cell and gene therapy, with a strong track record of leading diverse teams in dynamic environments. In her new role as ViSync® CSO, she will drive the company’s R&D strategy and scientific vision, positioning ViSync® as a leader in innovation within the dynamic and rapidly advancing field of cell and gene therapy. “We are thrilled to welcome Elsa Abranches as Chief Scientific Officer of ViSync®,” said Dr. Christoph Bruecher, Chairman of the Board of ViSync® and VP Business Transformation at Hovione. “Her expertise and vision in the field of advanced therapeutics will be pivotal in driving ViSync’s mission to create transformative solutions that empower pharmaceutical companies and improve patient treatment outcomes.” Dr. Manuel Carrondo, Director of the Board of ViSync® and Vice President of iBET, added, “Elsa’s appointment underscores our commitment to establishing ViSync® as a leader in cell and gene therapy innovation. Her scientific leadership will be critical as we tackle some of the most pressing challenges in the field of new modalities drug delivery.” Elsa Abranches, new Chief Scientific Officer of ViSync®, said: “Having worked in different countries and industries, I’m thrilled to bring my experience back home to join ViSync®. This new venture represents an incredible opportunity to collaborate with local and international partners to drive innovation in advanced therapeutics and help shape the future of life-changing therapies”.     About Hovione Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices. Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.   About iBET iBET is a private non-profit institution devoted to biotechnology research, with 35 years of experience creating and transferring knowledge to the global biopharma and biotech sectors. iBET’s core expertise lies on the development of bioprocesses and analytical tools for Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies, vaccines, antibodies and other innovative therapeutic products. Leveraged by the emerging areas of Data Science and Translational Immunology, we offer bespoke R&D services from early-stage R&D to GMP manufacturing. iBET’s infrastructure comprises cutting-edge laboratories, a GMP certified Analytical Services Unit, and a Late-Stage R&D and Bioproduction Unit, covering upstream and downstream process development, bioanalytical tools for critical quality attribute monitoring, to scale-up and tech transfer. iBET also hosts satellite laboratories of major pharmaceutical companies and serves as an incubation platform for start-up/spin-off companies. iBET is driven by its innovative and agile culture of continuous improvement and a strong sense of ambition, ownership and commitment in developing and delivering the best solutions to our stakeholders.     

News

ViSync® Technologies appoints Elsa Abranches as Chief Scientific Officer

Dec 19, 2024

Lisbon, November 25, 2024, Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO and the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, just completed significant expansions in Europe and the USA. The investments at its East Windsor, New Jersey, and Ringaskiddy, Cork, facilities will significantly increase Hovione's global spray drying capacity and enhance the sites‘capabilities.   This latest round of investment reinforces Hovione’s position as the global leader in spray drying for pharma applications, an essential technology for enhancing drug solubility and bioavailability. Spray drying converts liquid solutions into fine powders, enabling improved dissolution and absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. This process is particularly valuable for inhalable therapies and oral formulations with low bioavailability, helping to deliver more effective treatments and ensuring reliable, high-quality healthcare solutions for patients.  In New Jersey, the investment represents the first step of a multi-year site expansion program, aimed at advancing both spray drying and tableting capabilities. Simultaneously, the Cork facility saw its spray drying capacity increase nearly twofold. Combined, these efforts are creating over 40 new skilled jobs, driving growth and innovation across both locations. Dr Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Executive Officer of Hovione said: “These expansions, incorporating our latest technologies, reflect Hovione’s unwavering commitment to innovation and manufacturing service excellence. Strengthening our facilities and teams in the USA and Ireland allows us to better serve our customers and provide flexible supply options for both small- and large-scale programs. By increasing our capacity and enhancing our technological capabilities, we are even better equipped to help our customers bring new and more complex drugs to market.” The investments at both sites are part of Hovione’s long-term strategy to remain at the forefront of pharmaceutical technology. With a 65-year history of continuous improvement, Hovione is driving progress in drug development and manufacturing, offering solutions that enable more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes.   About Hovione:  Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices. Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.   In the picture from left to right: Dr. Till Riehm, Site Manager - Cork, Hovione; Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO, Hovione; Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner Designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law; Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland; Jorge Pastilha, VP Technical Operations - Europe and Asia, and Dr. Paul Downing, Senior Director, Strategic Business Management.    

Press Release

Hovione Expands Global Spray Drying Capacity with Significant Investment in the USA and Ireland

Nov 26, 2024

International pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Hovione has today officially commissioned an expansion at its manufacturing facility in Ringaskiddy. The multi-million euro investment almost doubles the capacity of Hovione’s spray drying facilities in Ireland and will create more than 20 new positions. Hovione said this latest investment reinforces the company's position as a global leader in spray drying for pharma applications.   This manufacturing technology, the company explained, is "especially important for inhalable therapies and oral medications with low bioavailability, enabling more effective treatments".  Deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Audrey Buckley said:  “I am delighted to welcome this very significant investment and the creation of further highly skilled jobs in Cork today.  “It reinforces Hovione’s commitment to the region and the innovative solutions it provides to the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.” Meanwhile Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner-Designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, welcomed the expected jobs boost the expansion is to create.  “This latest investment highlights the success of Hovione’s facility in Ringaskiddy, and underlines the continued resilience of Ireland’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.  “I am delighted that Hovione will be shortly welcoming new team members to this expanded facility, and I wish both them and Hovione every success”. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione's chief executive said: “This newly opened facility further strengthens Hovione's position as the global CDMO of choice for spray drying development and manufacturing services.  “It also underscores our commitment to bringing first-in-class technology and world-leading manufacturing services to Irish shores.  “Ireland provides a superior environment for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and we are delighted to be a part of it.” CEO of IDA Ireland, Michael Lohan, said Hovione "has made a significant contribution both locally and nationally through employment and investment alike". "We warmly welcome Hovione’s commitment to investing in Cork and we wish them continued success," he added.    Read the full article on EchoLive.ie    

Press Clipping

Pharma company announces expansion of Cork facility to create more than 20 new jobs

Nov 25, 2024

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