Press Room

The Macau plant run by Portuguese pharmaceutical chemical firm Hovione could well be the only drug facility in the world to be located in a gaming mecca. Macau is Las Vegas transplanted to southern China. Sands, Venetian, and other companies that operate casinos, hotels, and convention centers in Las Vegas have been setting up grandiose facilities in Macau since the end of the gaming monopoly there. Since then, Macau has experienced an unprecedented construction boom.   Read full article at C&EN website

Article
C&EN, 19 December 2005

Hovione In Macau: Pharmaceutical ingredient plant is an important part of firm's global network

Dec 19, 2005

Interview with Hovione's CEO, Guy Villax. “Many of the new compounds in development present significant challenges. For example, they may be very fragile, and in simple terms, galenic techniques enable the chemist to isolate the API already in a preformulated more stable form. We call these Enhanced APIs.” There is much talk about the convergence of disciplines in the life-sciences area. Hovione has been involved in manufacturing APIs under current cGMP for nearly 50 years. Many development candidates present an increasing set of challenges: complexity of the molecule, poor bioavailability yet highly potent, very high purity, poor stability, etc.....often simultaneously. Meeting these demands has opened opportunities for the “top-of-the-line” Contract Manufacturing Organizations to develop strengths in new disciplines and to combine capabilities never before found on the same campus, let alone within a validated commercial scale GMP environment. Hovione has traditionally been a CMO of small molecules and is now adding new skills and capabilities that address the special needs of large molecules, peptides, and antibodies. Hence, Hovione now offers a range of galenic enhancements that contribute decisively to making certain APIs into viable industrial propositions, in purpose-designed containment areas built to uncommon standards, to serve projects managed with multidisciplinary staff. Drug Delivery Technology recently interviewed Mr. Guy Villax, Hovione’s CEO, to discuss his company’s philosophy and business strategy, a vision based on an intimate understanding of client needs and technology trends. APIs of the 21st century present increased difficulties not only in their traditional fields (chemistry, engineering, analytical chemistry), but in new areas of technology as well as management.     Small-molecule chemistry      

Article
Drug Delivery Technology, March 2005

Hovione: More Than Just Very Good

Mar 01, 2005

Hovione will be in at the 1st BioFine event in Berlin, so yes we did feel there was space for another show. In fact our thoughts are that some shows may have become too large and far too expensive, trying to be all things to all people, and with their gigantic size working against some of their users. Many of us, tired and with sore feet, wonder why we have to stand in queues waiting for expensive average food. We are looking at Bio-fine as a differentiated show - one that focuses away from commodities and is sensitive to pairing customers with suppliers eager to provide service and know-how. In giving our best wishes to the managers of BioFine, we would remind them that this is a global industry where English is the lingua franca and the outlook is international. We all have full agendas and tight schedules so please do choose venues where foreigners are welcome, taxis cheap and plentiful, airports near-by and hotels at the convention centre and not a wet 5 (in fact 15) minute walk away! Please time your shows away from other well-established and popular industry events, do consider traditional holidays of the key nations involved, keep away from locations in seasons that are predictably wet and cold. A great show was CPhI 1997 in London in Earl´s Court - everyone spoke English, the walk to the tube was 2 minutes, it was sunny September, and close to all the hotels. If Bio-fine wants to do really well look to how organisers of US shows do it. Food is free, no queues, no wet walks - and it is inexpensive. Charging attendees makes sure the quality stays high; keeping it small and with a smart market positioning makes sure the right people show up, business is done and time is not wasted. Going forward, security concerns are also a factor, keeping away from big crowds or major cities may be a plus. At BioFine we will be offering our customers the latest technology we have added to our capabilities: particle size design, from lab to large-scale, with a focus on reproducibility of physical characteristics. Our customers tell us that the galenic interface is where most of our competitors fail. We are doing for particle size and crystal form what we did for injectable grade APIs in the 90´s, becoming a leader and defining bench-marks. Guy Villax CEO Hovione Loures, 4th May 2004

Article
BioFine Berlin, 4 May 2004

Do we really need more trade-shows

May 04, 2004

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about Hovione, kindly fill in the form below and we will be revert to you soon.

By clicking Submit, you agree to our Terms and that you have read our Privacy Notice, including our Cookie use.