The Riom site will allow Carbogen Amcis to be active in finished dosage forms
Two years ago , the firm reached the point where the facility , which could only take projects as far as Phase II , was full and it had to decide whether to move forward with it or divest . It decided to put a plan in place to grow towards commercial manufacture . Two lines are now being put in , for sterile solids and sterile liquids , together with development and analytical laboratories . The focus will be on complex , small-scale and highly potent compounds , including biologics . Operations will commence during Q1 2023 . The highly potent market , Griffiths adds , continues to be strong and to diversify . While solid oral dose forms remain the ‘ holy grail ’ and a capability few have , other applications like
ADCs and non-live viruses are adding complexity to formulation . “ We see a market opportunity that we want to grow into – this is why we are expanding at Riom ,” Griffiths says .
Market still strong
Business in the last few years has continued to be strong and the company has continued its transition away from its once neartotal dependence on large pharma companies for revenue and pipeline products . This strategy “ has worked beautifully ”, Griffiths says . “ What we find is that the smaller and mid-sized biotechs really value the experience we have and the potential to add full service , if required , to the things we do ,” he notes . “ They are also incredibly loyal , which is important for a company like ours .” Many of these companies have grown from the proverbial ‘ two men and a lab ’ to a fully fledged small pharma company . Carbogen Amcis has been part of the journey with them . “ That worked for us rather well when large pharma decided they really didn ’ t value what Western CMOs like us were offering ”. In the last 12 months , Griffiths continues , he has seen signs of large pharma companies changing their strategy yet again . Some of them are now coming back , but are struggling to find capacity because Western CDMOs are often full . This is not , however , the reason why Carbogen Amcis is making its investment .
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