Hovione Breaks Ground on API Facility in New Jersey

Hovione’s official groundbreaking for the expansion of its East Windsor, New Jersey facility was held on June 8, the company announced in a June 16, 2016 press release. The expansion will add an additional 30,600 ft² (2843 m²) to the existing 24,000-ft² (2211-m²) facility. It will introduce a new commercial spray dryer unit to complement the existing pilot unit, and this installation will be specifically designed to handle potent drug substances (i.e., APIs). In addition, the facility will more than double its capacity to manufacture drug substance. The expansion is expected to add approximately 60 new jobs to the current workforce over the next three years.

“The start of the construction activities to expand our site in East Windsor is a very exciting moment for us and for our customers,” said Dr. Marco Gil, general manager, Hovione New Jersey, in the press release. “This is an important step to strengthen our continued commitment to the pharmaceutical industry and to the patients by offering innovative technologies and services. The site will be unique in offering at a single location drug substance, spray drying, hot melt extrusion and drug product manufacturing services using innovative continuous manufacturing technology.”

“This investment is part of the company’s strategy to increase its global development and commercial capacity which will meet the increasing demands of Hovione’s customers in the API and Spray drying services. It will also include the addition of a continuous drug product manufacturing capability to its offering through the partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced earlier this year,” said Kristine Senft, vice-president of marketing and sales, in the press release.

The start-up of the operation is expected to take place in April 2017 for the drug substance and spray drying services, and the continuous drug product manufacturing is expected to start up at the end of 2017.

Source: Hovione