NEWS
SEP / OCT 2021
Curia to expand US API capabilities
Curia has announced plans to invest about $ 35 million in order to expand commercial-scale API manufacturing capacity at its largest site in Rensselaer , New York , over the course of 18 months . This is the third big announcement in the month since the former AMRI renamed itself . The expansion will include new vessel capacities that more than double the site ’ s batch-size scale-up and product output . It also features new product-handling for complex small molecules , notably oncology treatments , thus enabling Curia to address growing demand for HPAPIs , while also optimising energy use and enhancing environmental standards . “ Some of the life-saving products produced at Rensselaer are highly complex ,” said chairman and CEO John Ratliff . “ The engineering and technology advances we have designed for the site will enhance our flexibility , efficiency and scale , allowing us to meet our customers ’ current and future complex manufacturing needs .” AMRI adopted the name Curia , taken from a Latin word for ‘ purposeful assembly ’, from 12 July . It said that this “ reinforces the company ’ s strategic positioning as an end-to-end global CDMO , applying its scientific expertise and extensive capabilities from R & D through to commercial manufacturing ”. In the following few days , Curia acquired Integrity Bio , a formulation and fill-finish company headquartered in California , and LakePharma , a biologics drug discovery , clinical research , development and manufacturing firm with operations in three US states . Terms were not disclosed in either deal , but they were both integral to the rebrand , reflecting a move beyond the traditional focus on small molecules . Integrity also brings West Coast coverage to Curia ’ s largely East Coast presence : it has facilities in Albuquerque , New Mexico ; Burlington , Massachusetts ; and Glasgow in Scotland . LakePharma brought the technology platforms of cell-line development , bioexpression systems and viral vector production systems , plus relationships with 22 of the top 25 global biopharmaceutical companies . Its six facilities and 235 employees join Curia ’ s 21 sites and over 3,100 employees .
IN BRIEF
Neuland investment
Carbogen Amcis is to invest € 3.7 million in the manufacture of a commercial product for an unnamed customer at its Neuland site , which specialises in early phase development . This follows a € 5.6 million investment in 2017 . It includes a 200-litre , medium-pressure chromatography column , a 20 cm prep-HPLC system and short-path distillation equipment , which should be ready for production by Q1 2023 .
Clariant completes
Subject to regulatory approvals , Clariant will acquire the remaining 70 % in Brazilian personal care company Beraca from the founding Sabará family in Q4 . It has owned the rest since 2015 . Beraca makes natural ingredients such as fats , oils and botanicals from the Amazon region via sustainable processes .
Platinum API line up
Heraeus Pharmaceutical Ingredients ’ new production line for platinum-based pharmaceutical ingredients at Hanau , Germany , is now running at full speed and customers have received the first deliveries of APIs . The company launched the project in late 2018 in response to growing demand for these APIs in oncology drugs and imminent shortages .
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