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Lisbon, October 3, 2024 – Hovione Farmaciência, S.A. (“Hovione”) and Zerion Pharma A/S (“Zerion”) today announced that they have expanded their partnership to accelerate the development of the Dispersome® technology platform and further expand its applicability and reach for increasing the solubility and bioavailability of small drug molecules. To this aim, the companies created a joint venture responsible for managing the Dispersome® intellectual property portfolio and allocated market rights to the two partners. Hovione and Zerion have been co-promoting the Dispersome® technology to clients since the beginning of 2022. Under the extended collaboration, Hovione is granted exclusive global rights to develop and offer the Dispersome® technology for drugs delivered via the respiratory route, a field where Hovione is active today with leading formulation and manufacturing capabilities. Further, Hovione is granted exclusive rights to develop and offer Dispersome® formulations for nutraceutical and medicinal foods products, an area with unmet needs in the area of bioavailability. Hovione is also granted a non-exclusive license to promote the Dispersome® technology for use in Pharmaceutical oral dosage forms for new chemical entities. In return for the grant of rights, Zerion will receive royalties from Hovione’s commercial activities in these fields. Within the framework of the joint venture, the parties will work closely together to bring the Dispersome® technology to customers as quickly as possible. Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark) will deliver the pharmaceutical excipient (Lacprodan® BLG-100 Pharma Grade) for the Dispersome® technology, when BLG is accepted as a novel excipient. “Hovione is thrilled to reinforce its collaboration with Zerion to further accelerate the adoption of Dispersome® in the pharma and nutra markets,” said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione’s CEO. “The use of Zerion’s Dispersome® Technology has proven to deliver superior solubilization power for both pharma and nutraceutical active ingredients. This highly innovative platform is a valuable addition to Hovione’s leading offering in solubility and permeability enhancement for NCEs and nutraceuticals and affords formulators new options which address unmet needs of the industry.” Ole Wiborg, the CEO of Zerion, comments: “Hovione is the global leader in the field of producing amorphous solid dispersions by spray-drying and this extension of our partnership again confirms the huge potential of our Dispersome® technology. If one company in the pharma industry can truly judge its value, it is Hovione, and we have a strong belief in sharing our technology with Hovione, who will secure its use with more drugs and ingredients and in applications across several delivery routes. Thus, we expect substantial revenues from the collaboration in the years to come.” Through their partnership, Hovione and Zerion are offering pharma, biotech and nutra companies worldwide access to an innovative delivery platform combined with an unparalleled experience in formulation development, scale-up, and GMP manufacturing. The Dispersome® technology Zerion has pioneered the Dispersome® technology that addresses poor drug solubility, one of the most recognized drug development challenges. The Dispersome® technology increases solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds and can be applied at any stage of drug discovery or drug development, including in preclinical studies, first in human studies, and reformulation of existing drug products.   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. About Zerion Pharma A/S Zerion develops its own proprietary drug formulations and offers its Dispersome® technology platform to established pharma companies as a means to solve their challenging drug solubility problems. Zerion was established in 2019 as a spinout of the University of Copenhagen.     Read the previous press releases on this story: Hovione and Zerion Pharma announce a strategic partnership to market the Dispersome® technology platform Zerion Pharma and Hovione extend partnership to cover use of the Dispersome® technology platform in nutraceuticals  

Press Release
A partnership to accelerate the development of the Dispersome® technology platform and further expand its applicability and reach for increasing the solubility and bioavailability of small drug molecules.

Hovione and Zerion Pharma create joint venture to further expand use of Dispersome® technology

Oct 03, 2024

Hovione’s Eunice Costa Shares Insights on Inhaled Medicine Formulation in Pharmaceutical Technology eBook The demand for efficient inhalation therapies is higher than ever. At Hovione we are focusing on particle size, dispersion performance, and formulation integrity to ensure optimal bioavailability and patient outcomes.  To learn more about or work, do not miss the contribution of Eunice Costa, our R&D Director for Inhalation & Advanced Drug Delivery, in the latest Pharmaceutical Technology eBook – “Trends in Formulation”.  In her interview, Eunice discusses key challenges and considerations in formulating inhaled medicines, emphasizing the importance of excipient selection, device compatibility, and patient-centric design for successful drug delivery to the lungs. With respiratory diseases at the forefront, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for efficient inhalation therapies is higher than ever. Eunice sheds light on how Hovione is tackling these demands by focusing on particle size, dispersion performance, and formulation integrity to ensure optimal bioavailability and patient outcomes. Explore Eunice Costa’s full insights on this crucial area of drug development in Pharmaceutical Technology's September 2024 eBook. This resource provides an in-depth look into the complexities of inhaled drug formulations and the exciting innovations shaping the future of respiratory treatments.   Read the full article at Pharmaceutical Technology eBook Read the Trends in Formulation eBook at PharmTech  

Article
Excipient and delivery device selection play crucial roles in the formulation of inhaled drugs.

Formulating Inhaled Medicines

Sep 24, 2024

From left to right: Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione, Paula Alves, CEO of iBET, and João Almeida Lopes, President of iBET.   Lisbon, Portugal: Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, and iBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica), a private not-for-profit research-intensive SME in the area of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, are proud to announce the official establishment of ViSync® Technologies as a jointly owned venture. The creation of this new company, headquartered in the Lisbon area of Portugal, illustrates the parent companies´ commitment to partnership and joint innovation. ViSync® will aim to develop innovative solutions to address the unmet technical needs of pharmaceutical companies in the cell and gene therapy space, leveraging Hovione's extensive expertise in pharmaceutical development, Particle Engineering and industrialization of pharmaceutical technologies and iBET's cutting-edge research in biotechnological sciences. One of the first focus areas of ViSync® will be to develop technologies that improve delivery and stabilization of new modality therapies. "We are delighted to join forces with iBET - a leading R&D organization in Biotechnology and Life Sciences – in the establishment of ViSync®.” says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione’s CEO. “By combining Hovione´s expertise in drug formulation, manufacturing process development and scale up with iBET´s broad understanding of new modalities, we aim to devise new solutions to help pharma companies launch innovative medicines and improve health outcomes for patients.”   “The creation of ViSync® marks a significant milestone for iBET.” says Paula Alves, CEO of iBET. “By combining our cutting-edge biotechnological research in the cell and gene therapy fields with Hovione’s extensive pharmaceutical development expertise, we are well-positioned to develop innovative approaches for targeted delivery and stabilization of new modality therapies. We are excited about the potential of ViSync® to drive substantial advancements and deliver significant benefits to patients worldwide.”    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.    

Press Release
Commitment to partnership and joint innovation for cell and gene therapies

Hovione and iBET Announce the Establishment of ViSync® Technologies: A Venture in Cell and Gene Therapy Solutions

Sep 19, 2024

Lisbon, Portugal – Hovione, the specialist integrated pharma CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced its commitment to setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs) in line with the Paris Agreement. This ambitious step underscores the company’s dedication to addressing climate change and driving sustainability across its operations. By committing to SBTs, Hovione joins a growing number of businesses taking concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative aligns with the company’s broader sustainability strategy and reinforces its commitment to scientific excellence. “At Hovione, we believe in science and in best practices. And this clearly applies to our sustainability agenda.”, said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione. We made the decision to drive our GHG emissions down using a science-based target setting process, which will help us drive sustainability across our operations by laying out a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. We believe that by setting ambitious targets and implementing concrete actions, we can make a positive impact on the planet while driving innovation and growth.” Hovione will work closely with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to develop and validate its emission reduction targets. The company will provide regular updates on its progress towards achieving these goals. As part of its commitment to sustainability and transparency to stakeholders, the company will enhance its Ecovadis rating. Ecovadis, a leading sustainability assessment platform in the pharmaceutical industry, provides a comprehensive evaluation of a company’s environmental, social, and ethical performance, well aligned with Hovione’s sustainability ambitions.  Hovione remains dedicated to operating responsibly and contributing positively to society and the environment. The company will continue to implement sustainable practices across its operations and innovate to further improve its sustainability rating.   Learn more about Science Based-Targets  

News
Hovione commitment to setting SBTs in line with the Paris Agreement

Hovione Commits to Science-Based Targets for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Sep 09, 2024

The partnership with Higuchi forms part of Hovione´s global expansion plans and marks a significant milestone in advancing Hovione's presence in the Japanese market.    Under the terms of the agreement, Higuchi will promote Hovione's pharmaceutical service business throughout Japan, using their extensive experience to enhance brand visibility and attract new clientele across the Japanese pharmaceutical landscape.  “This strategic collaboration underscores Hovione's dedication to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to its customers,” said Yuken Kyoyama. “Our partnership with Higuchi will help to show customers in Japan how Hovione can meet their needs.”    Learn more about our business in Japan and visit our website hovione.co.jp    

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Hovione proudly announces its collaborative venture with Higuchi.

Hovione forges strategic partnership with Higuchi to further strengthen its presence in Japan

Jul 04, 2024

Lisbon, Portugal: Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, is proud to announce the opening of a state-of-the-art continuous tableting (CT) line at its R&D Center in Lisbon.   The new line is the result of the partnership with GEA, a global leader in process technology for the pharmaceutical industry. Since announcing their partnership in 2022, Hovione and GEA have worked to advance continuous tableting technology. Their collaboration seeks to boost the adoption of continuous tableting by offering increased capacity, flexibility, standardized equipment, improved quality, and enhanced efficiency. Together, they have shown that continuous tableting can become a more accessible technology. This new R&D line is the only one of its kind in the world and perfectly replicates the most critical components of Hovione´s state-of-the-art commercial CT line in Loures, Portugal. It also offers a high degree of flexibility in throughput and can handle highly potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). “With this new line, we will be able to optimize operating conditions with minimum amounts of API and provide a higher technical certainty when transferring from development to commercial scale”, said Jaime Del Campo, Head of R&D Services at Hovione. “The flexibility of the rig and the real-time process data monitoring capabilities contribute to a more agile design and upscaling experience.” The new CT line at Hovione's Lisbon R&D center is now fully operational and ready to support both existing and new projects. This investment reinforces Hovione's global reputation in pharmaceutical manufacturing and highlights the company's commitment to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the industry and support quicker and more efficient market launches.    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.     Learn more about Continuous Tableting for Drug Product    

Press Release
Hovione is proud to announce the opening of a state-of-the-art continuous tableting (CT) line at its R&D Center in Lisbon.

Hovione Unveils New Continuous Tableting Line at Lisbon R&D Centre

Jun 18, 2024

Following the creation of offices in Shanghai and Beijing, Hovione is pleased to announce the launch of its new website in Mandarin. This dedicated platform will enhance Hovione´s presence in China, offering tailored contents to better serve customers in this important market. The new site will provide comprehensive information about Hovione´s products and services, ensuring that Chinese clients have easier access to the innovative solutions and support that Hovione is renowned for worldwide.   “The launch of the Hovione Chinese website underscores our commitment to customers in China,” said Ms. Jackie Liu, Country Head, China. “By delivering localized content and support, we aim to foster stronger partnerships and drive mutual growth in this market. Our team of experts is fully committed to understanding and addressing our clients´ unique challenges with agility and precision.” Visit us at www.hovione.com.cn    

News
Hovione is closer to its customers with a new website in Mandarin

Hovione launches new website for the Chinese Market

Jun 14, 2024

Diane Villax, Co-Founder and Board Member of Hovione has been honored with a lifetime achievement award at Deloitte´s Investor Relations and Governance Awards (IRGAwards) 2024. It was especially fitting for her to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes individuals who have made valuable and exceptional contributions to their field, in the year that Hovione celebrates its 65th anniversary.   Learn more about IRGAwards  

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36th edition of the Investor Relations & Governance Awards (IRGAwards) promoted by Deloitte

Diane Villax receives achievement award at Deloitte´s Investor Relations and Governance Awards (IRGAwards) 2024

May 23, 2024

Lisbon, May 21, 2024 – Hovione has placed fourth among the best companies to work in Portugal and was again the best in the Health Sector according to Randstad´s Employer Brand Research. The research, which was published yesterday, identified the 20 best employers in Portugal. This is the ninth annual edition of Ranstad´s study, which is based on a representative sample of the Portuguese workforce. The respondents evaluate companies according to a range of different criteria, including salary and benefits, job security, work atmosphere, and career progression opportunities. Employer branding can have a significant impact on an organization's ability to attract and retain top talent and so is becoming an increasingly important part of a company a strategy to address the talent shortage challenge.  Ilda Ventura, VP of Human Resources at Hovione explains that “Our global HR strategy is built on the need to attract, retain and empower our talented team members. Therefore, our Employer Branding needs to reflect the reality of who we are, so that we don’t just attract new talent but allow current team members to flourish. It also needs to capture the positive impact that Hovione has on the world, and how our innovative work relies on the knowledge and problem solving of our team members. We continue to work on refining and improving the work we do on our EB. This too is an important reflection of our values, and our belief in continuous improvement.” This is the third successive year that has been ranked as the most attractive company to work for in the Health Sector and placed in the top five overall  This recognition comes after Hovione was recognized as a Top Employer in all four of its global sites in January 2024, becoming the first company in Macau to do so.    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.  

News
Hovione has placed fourth among the best companies to work in Portugal and was again the best in the Health Sector according to Randstad´s Employer Brand Research.

Hovione again ranks among best employers in Portugal

May 21, 2024

The new company, which will be located in Portugal, will focus on the development of drug delivery solutions for emerging drug modalities. Cell and gene therapies represent a paradigm shift in modern medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to address previously untreatable diseases. ViSync solutions will help address some of the manufacturing challenges caused by the complex nature of new modalities, with special focus on stabilization, cell or tissue targeting and drug payload delivery.  Lisbon, 9th May 2024 – The specialist integrated CDMO and leader in pharmaceutical spray drying and particle engineering, and iBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica), a private not-for-profit research intensive SME in the area of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, today announced the creation of ViSync Technologies, a new joint venture located in Oeiras, close to Lisbon. The newly formed company will focus on developing innovative technologies and scalable solutions to help pharmaceutical companies address formulation and manufacturing challenges in transformative cell and gene therapies. Hovione has a strong track record in industrializing new technologies and supporting Pharma Companies with their clinical and commercial volume manufacturing needs, while iBET has a strong biological background and a global reputation for its scientific knowledge of the new therapeutic modalities space, particularly cell and gene therapy.  New modalities, such as gene and cell therapies, RNA drugs and other complex biologics, are a rapidly growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry. They promise to bring breakthroughs to the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer, genetic disorders, rare diseases and neurological conditions.  While this rapid growth has been driven by remarkable efficacy in addressing unmet clinical needs, the complex nature of the new modalities brings challenges, including limited drug administration options, immunogenic responses and off-target effects, issues with high dose delivery and high costs. The poor stability of these drugs is also an issue, resulting in the need for cold supply chains. ViSync will aim to develop novel technology platforms to address the unmet needs of pharmaceutical customers developing these transformative new products. “The creation of ViSync in collaboration with iBET marks an exciting new chapter in Hovione´s commitment to innovation”, said Dr Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione´s CEO. “New therapeutic modalities have the potential to bring radical improvements to current standards of care and we are thrilled to partner with iBET, a world-renowned expert organization in this area, to develop technology platforms that help customers bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide. The first step will be to assemble a team who possesses the knowledge, expertise, and ingenuity needed to navigate the complexities ahead." “The establishment of ViSync in partnership with Hovione represents a pivotal moment in iBET’s dedication to pioneering research in advanced therapies,” stated Dr. Paula Alves, iBET’s CEO. “The immense promise of these new modalities is at our reach and we are delighted to join forces with Hovione, a globally recognized leader in technological industrialization and drug delivery. In this common endeavor, we will gather the scientific and technical competences and skills to support our clients and partners in delivering groundbreaking therapies to patients globally.” ViSync will develop its own lab facility in Lisbon and expects to be able to start its research and development work by the end of 2024.   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 bioprocessses 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
News release, 09 May 2024

Hovione and iBET announce the creation of ViSync Technologies, an innovative new company that will develop solutions for unmet needs in cell and gene therapy

May 09, 2024

We are proud to have been nominated in three categories for HR Magazine’s annual awards, for Team Spirit and Engagement, Internal Mobility and Best HR Director. At Hovione, we talk about "Team Members” rather than “employees”, emphasizing the company's commitment to fostering a culture where teamwork is not just valued but integral to achieving collective success. We believe that individuals work best when they feel supported and are working towards a shared goal.  Hovione is a global company with a diverse range of roles across different disciplines. This means that we can offer team members the opportunity to explore new horizons and expand their skill sets within the company, enriching their career experiences and driving innovation across the organization. The awards are decided by a public vote which is open until the 17 May. Vote here!  

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Place your vote.

Hovione nominated in HR Awards – voting is open globally

May 03, 2024

Hovione and GEA further strengthened their partnership, resulting in the launch of the ConsiGma® CDC flex Continuous Tableting Technology and the installation of a lab-scale R&D rig in Hovione´s facilities in Portugal. The agreement furthers Hovione´s ability to bring the benefits of continuous tableting, including reduced time to market and increased supply chain flexibility, to pharmaceutical customers globally. A presentation explaining how the technology has advanced will take place during a conference in Portugal (16–18 April), organized by Concept Heidelberg. Lisbon, March 18, 2024 – Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, and GEA, a global leader in process technology for the pharmaceutical industry, today announced the next stage of their partnership, with new development agreements, the launch of the ConsiGma® CDC flex as well as the installation of a new lab-scale R&D Continuous Tableting rig in Hovione´s facilities in Portugal. The two companies’ collective and complementary knowledge of continuous tableting is being applied to streamline the technology and make it more accessible to pharmaceutical customers worldwide. The two expert teams are collaborating to bring continuous tableting to the same level of maturity as batch tableting, thereby capturing the known benefits of continuous manufacturing while reducing the downsides. The ConsiGma® CDC flex (patent pending), has been designed as a truly versatile system which can operate seamlessly in both continuous and batch modes and offer both high and low throughput functionality. With a focus on user-friendliness, the ConsiGma® range will be augmented further with new developments to simplify routine development operations and introduce automated workflows and Smart controls interfaces, empowering operators to streamline production processes. GEA will also supply Hovione with lab-scale feeding and blending systems for research and development (R&D) applications which will bolster Hovione’s current GMP equipment for both continuous direct compression (CDC) and wet granulation continuous tableting and complement the non-GMP test capabilities of GEA in Wommelgem. Since signing the original collaboration agreement last year, the two companies have worked predominantly on two areas of the partnership: technology development and the joint promotion of continuous tableting. Presentations explaining how the technology has advanced will take place during the continuous tableting conference in Cascais, Portugal (April 16-18), organized by Concept Heidelberg, and another event Princeton NJ, USA (September 16-18), organized by Continuous Manufacturing Forum. “We believe that continuous tableting can offer significant benefits to our customers, not only by shortening time to market and reducing development and manufacturing costs but also by improving product quality and sustainability”, commented Filipe Gaspar, VP Technology Intensification at Hovione. “Through our collaboration with GEA, we aim to revolutionize the continuous production of oral solid dosage forms, making the technology more accessible and efficient for pharma customers.”   “Hovione and GEA benefit from a very large and complementary pool of continuous tableting experts; together, their collective knowledge is being applied to make continuous processing much less complex” stated Phillip Gabb, Strategic Business Director, Pharma Solid Dosage at GEA Pharma & Healthcare. “There is an industry perception that a lot of highly qualified and well-trained people are required to run a continuous line. The partnership’s intention is to simplify that, make it no different to running a standard tablet press and enable existing operators — with the right guidance — to use continuous manufacturing equipment.”  Background information 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 GEA GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated revenues of about EUR 5.4 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2023 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customer’s production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world“. GEA is listed on the German MDAX the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is among the companies comprising the DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability as well as Dow Jones Sustainability World and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Indices.  

Press Release
The agreement furthers Hovione´s ability to bring the benefits of continuous tableting, including reduced time to market and increased supply chain flexibility, to pharmaceutical customers globally

Hovione and GEA Strengthen Partnership to Advance Continuous Tableting Technology

Mar 18, 2024

Hovione has entered into a license agreement with Dragonfly Technologies, Inc. to offer its customers the breakthrough micellar technology developed by Prof. Lipshutz. The agreement provides Hovione with the capability to develop chemistry-in-water, enabling a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional chemical processes relying on traditional organic solvents. Lisbon, March 07, 2024, Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced it has signed an agreement with Dragonfly Technologies, Inc. to gain access to its micellar technology for chemistry-in-water processes, developed by Prof. Bruce Lipshutz of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Hovione will further progress the technology to make it an integral part of its API manufacturing technology offering.  Micellar chemistry enables multiple chemical transformations to take place in nanomicelles dispersed in water, mimicking natural chemical transformations. The technology allows reactions to occur at lower temperatures and enables the reduction or even the avoidance of rare and expensive metal catalysts. At the same time, by minimizing the use of organic solvents, it can also reduce the carbon footprint of the desired chemical reactions.  Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione’s CEO commented: "Manufacturing of APIs and their intermediates make up a significant proportion of the overall carbon footprint of pharmaceutical product manufacturing. Gaining access to Dragonfly’s groundbreaking micellar technology is a key step in our journey to introduce more sustainable manufacturing options at industrial scale. This proprietary process technology enables the use of less energy-intensive conditions, lower levels of precious metal-containing catalysts, and lesser use of organic solvents.” Prof. Bruce Lipshutz said: “I am delighted about the collaboration between Hovione and Dragonfly on micellar catalysis chemistry in water. Hovione has a long history of developing and industrializing innovative technologies for the pharma industry. This agreement will help ensure that aqueous micellar technologies will have wider and faster market adoption, benefiting the industry as a whole, by enabling development of nature-based sustainable processes in water.” This collaboration is another example of Hovione´s commitment to expanding its technology platforms and contributing towards creating a more sustainable industry. The company is investing both in new assets and innovative technologies to meet customer demand for more sustainable integrated and differentiated development and manufacturing services for drug substances, particle engineering, and drug products. This new agreement follows on from other partnerships recently forged by Hovione to deliver new innovative solutions to customers, including those with IDC, to offer innovative nasal delivery devices, with H&T Presspart for the advancement of a dry powder inhaler platform, with Zerion Pharma to commercialize the Dispersome® technology platform and with Ripple Therapeutics to expand the use of the Epidel® platform beyond ophthalmic applications. In addition, in November 2024 Hovione acquired ExtremoChem, a company with a portfolio of rare sugars which have shown potential in stabilizing biopharmaceuticals. Note to editor: Dragonfly Technologies, Inc. is a company founded by Prof. Bruce Lipshutz which is devoted to micellar technology. 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
The agreement provides Hovione with the capability to develop chemistry-in-water, enabling a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional chemical processes relying on traditional organic solvents.

Hovione partners with Dragonfly Technologies to offer micellar chemistry technology to customers as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical processes

Mar 07, 2024

Hovione Macau was recently awarded the Medal of Merit for Industrial and Commercial Excellence by the Government of Macau, a Special Administrative Region of the People´s Republic of China. This prestigious award recognizes the company's nearly 40 years of outstanding contribution to the pharmaceutical industry in Macau. Eddy Leong, Site Manager of Hovione Macau, accepted this prestigious Medal on behalf of Hovione at the ceremony held in Macau. Eddy Leong expressed his gratitude for the award and emphasized the company's commitment to working with partner organizations to create rewarding career opportunities in life sciences. Read this press release to learn more about the Medal of Merit awarded by Hovione. If you would like to explore our open opportunities in Hovione Macau, please visit our Careers Website.   

News
Exciting News Alert from Hovione in Macau

Hovione Macau awarded by the Government of Macau at a Ceremony held in Macau

Jan 19, 2024

Hovione has been recognized as a Top Employer in all four of its manufacturing sites, in Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ) and Macau. Hovione is the first company to be certified as a Top Employer in Macau. Hovione’s 3 other sites, who had achieved Top Employer status in 2023, showed improved results this year.   Lisbon, January 18, 2024, Hovione, the specialist integrated CDMO, leader in spray drying and particle engineering, is delighted to announce that it has been recognized as a Top Employer in all four of its manufacturing sites. Hovione is the first ever company to be certified as a Top Employer in Macau. This marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to fostering a supportive workplace environment and providing meaningful and rewarding roles for its team members. It also demonstrates that “One Hovione”, a company´s strategic initiative to give team members an equally high-quality experience across all locations, is delivering.  The certification program by the Top Employers Institute evaluates organizations through their participation in and outcomes of the HR Best Practices Survey. This comprehensive survey encompasses six domains and addresses 20 topics from Career Development to Leadership and from Employee Wellbeing to Equity & Inclusion and Wellbeing, amongst others. The program has certified and recognized over 2,300 Top Employers in 121 countries/regions across five continents.  "Hovione is a company committed to excellence and differentiation and being a Top Employer is an integral component of Hovione's People Strategy. I am pleased to see that our continuous improvement program, supported by Top Employer´s best practices benchmarks, resulted in our progressing along multiple dimensions at all our locations”, commented Ilda Ventura, Vice-President for Human Resources and Member of the Management Board of Hovione.     Macau Special Administrative Region Douglas Lau, Human Resources Director for Hovione Macau, said that “It is a real achievement to be the first company in Macau to be a Top Employer. This demonstrates that companies in Macau can offer the same high quality workplace environment as anywhere else in the world. Coming so soon after Hovione was awarded the Medal of Merit from the Macau Government, it is also a further demonstration of how Hovione creates jobs that have real value to both our team members and the wider society. Portugal Catarina Tendeiro, HR Senior Director for Hovione Portugal, said that “We are thrilled to announce that Hovione has once again been recognized as Top Employer. This is a confirmation of our ongoing commitment to developing an exceptional workplace environment for our team members, who represent our most significant resource and our company´s main differentiator. I was especially pleased that this year’s report demonstrated improvement in several key areas, including Business and People Strategy, Leadership, Performance and Career and Learning. This demonstrates our desire to listen to feedback and to continue to improve our workplace experience.  USA Erin Tetreault, HR Director for Hovione New Jersey said, “We are thrilled to announce that Hovione has once again been certified as a Top Employer. We believe that our people are our strongest asset and this certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to create a workplace culture that goes beyond safety and quality and helps all team members to feel truly valued. I was especially pleased that this years’ report showed improvement in several key areas, including Leadership, Work Environment and Employee Wellbeing. This demonstrates our desire to listen to feedback and to continue to improve our workplace experience." Ireland Imelda Cummins, HR Director for Hovione Ireland commented, “We are delighted that Hovione has once again been certified as a Top Employer. Hovione´s team members represent our strongest asset and enable us to offer our customers the high-quality products and services that Hovione is known for. It also shows our ongoing commitment to developing a great workplace environment. I was especially pleased that this year’s report demonstrated improvement in several key areas, including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Learning, Sustainability and Career Development. This demonstrates our desire to listen to feedback and to continue to improve our workplace experience.   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 recognising excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies can be validated, certified, and recognised as an employer of choice. In 2024, Top Employers Institute has certified more than 2300 organisations in 121 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 12 million employees globally.    

Press Release
Hovione has been recognized as a Top Employer in all four of its manufacturing sites, in Lisbon (Portugal), Cork (Ireland), East Windsor (NJ) and Macau.

Hovione certified as a Top Employer in all of its manufacturing sites

Jan 18, 2024

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