Hovione Adds New Capsule Filler at Portugal Site

Hovione announced on Jan. 24, 2018 that a new MG2 Tekna Precision Capsule filler is now online at its Portugal site. This investment strengthens Hovione’s Services inhalation services portfolio, which include proprietary particle-engineering technologies as well as formulation and capsule filling capabilities to support projects from development to commercial-scale production.

The new equipment can fill up to 110,000 capsules per hour with 100% net weight check. It can process highly potent compounds (down to 30 ng/m³). The unit complements the MG2 Flexalab and Mettler-Toledo Quantos encapsulation units that allows capsule filling for Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. Hovione has also installed multiple-scale spray-drying units for highly potent compounds and a new wet polishing suite as well as strengthened its analytical characterization toolbox.

With its API and particle engineering capabilities, Hovione can develop and produce inhalation products from API synthesis to final product. Services include formulation development and optimization, precision capsule filling with 100% fill weight check, analytical characterization, and scale up for commercial production.

“We are excited to announce this new integrated offering all at the same site where our scientists work together in the interface between particle engineering and final drug product for the benefit of an optimal product performance. This will allow us to support our customer’s inhalation projects at all scales and contribute to accelerate drug development and manufacturing timelines,” said Filipe Gaspar, R&D vice-president, in a press statement.      

“These investments are driven by significant client demand, since the market is looking for integrated inhalation product development solutions that reduce program risk and complexity. Hovione has all the ingredients for an outstanding partnership starting from clinical programs and into commercial supply,” Frédéric Kahn, vice-president, Marketing and Sales, added in the same press release.

Source: Hovione