Press Room

52nd Organic Process Research and Development (OPR&D)

Start
Monday, September 23, 2024
End
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Hoviong is present at the OPR&D Conference in Prague. Contact us today and schedule a meeting | Hovione

Visit Hovione at OPR&D, the Leading Process Chemistry Conference from September 23-25 in Prague, Czech Republic. 

We are proud to be the Gold Sponsor of the conference, the place to be to learn about the latest scientific updates in the industry and to network with chemical experts from around the globe.

 

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Join the conference's sessions led by our experts

"Women in Process Chemistry"

Chair: Susana Lucas, Ph.D., Sr. Manager, R&D Process Chemistry Development

September 23 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

We are honored to chair and sponsor the Women in Process Chemistry Session at the 52nd OPR&D Conference in Prague. Our expert Susana Lucas will be leading the conversation on innovative approaches to enhance process development efficiency alongside key opinion leaders in the field, including Samantha Staniland from AstraZeneca, Stephanie Kosnik from Boehringer Ingelheim, Dide Verhoeven from Symeres, and Gabriele Menges-Flanagan from Fraunhofer IMM.

Gain valuable insights into sustainable high-throughput experimentation (HTE) techniques in early-stage discovery and learn about cutting-edge crystallization methodologies to overcome isolation challenges. Additionally, learn about the synthesis and process development of an antiviral drug through a multi-kg case study, and delve into the world of organometallics in flow chemistry.

In line with our commitments around diversity, equity and inclusion, we are proud to be part of this initiative that encourages collaboration and innovation in process chemistry.

 

"Micellar Catalysis: Enabling Sustainable Chemistry in Water"

João Sardinha, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, R&D Process Chemistry Development

September 24 from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM

Description: Micellar chemistry, often referred to as micellar catalysis, presents a greener alternative to traditional organic solvents. Although water can occasionally replace solvents effectively, its compatibility with organic reagents is not always ideal. Nevertheless, recent developments have led to the introduction of innovative additives, such as aqueous micelles that function as "nanoreactors". These nanospheres, formed by surfactant molecules create a unique environment that enables chemical transformations in aqueous media. This advancement represents a significant step forward in sustainable chemistry, reducing reliance on harmful solvents and promoting environmentally friendly practices in chemical synthesis.

At Hovione, we have been exploring the application of micellar chemistry in various types of reactions, namely amide bond formation, SNAr, Suzuki couplings, nitro reductions, Buchwald-Hartwig amination among others. Several examples and comparison with traditional organic solvent methods will be presented. Additionally, a comparative study of an alkylation reaction in the synthesis of a Hovione API will be showcased, highlighting the superior efficiency, safety, and environmental benefits of micellar chemistry over the existing organic solvent process. The micellar process was successfully developed and optimized by means of Design of Experiments (DoE) ensuring robust and effective conditions. Following successful scale-up, we are about to implement this process at the pilot plant scale.

 

Schedule your meeting today and find out how we can support your project.

Find more about OPR&D Conference

 

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Drug Substance at Hovione

Your partner in custom development and manufacturing of APIs.

Schedule a meeting with our experts to learn more about our custom development and manufacturing of APIs. With worldwide locations, an exemplary regulatory track record and a ‘can do’ approach, our experienced development and manufacturing teams will provide the competence, capacity, safety and quality you expect to manufacture your product on time, on budget and to the very highest standards.

Curious about how combining human expertise with advanced computational models can enhance green chemistry principles in sustainable process chemistry? 

Read our article, ‘Benchmarking Strategies of Sustainable Process Chemistry Development: Human-Based, Machine Learning, and Quantum Mechanics’ published in OPR&D Journal here.

 

 

 

 

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The CDMO’s New Jersey manufacturing site expansion will eventually cover more than 200,000 square feet. Portugal-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Hovione has completed an initial $100 million investment round in its East Windsor, New Jersey site. Once completed it will increase the facility’s footprint to more than 200,000 square feet and more than double its capacity for spray drying. Hovione CEO Jean-Luc Herbeaux said: “Since launching our New Jersey operations in 2002, Hovione has been one of the longest established European CDMOs in the United States. “This investment reinforces Hovione’s leadership in spray drying – a core technology platform where we have built extensive know-how and capabilities. By continuing to advance our platforms and expand capacity in the US, we are strengthening the foundation that enables our partners to bring complex medicines to patients more efficiently.” Spray drying is an increasingly important particle engineering technology for improving drug bioavailability through the amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) that can address bioavailability or crystallisation challenges. The initial phase of Hovione’s expansion will include a 31,000-square-foot building to house two size-3 spray dryers (PSD-3) designed for ASD production. Construction at the New Jersey site is already underway and the company plans to start GMP operations in the second quarter of 2026. The initiative is part of Hovione’s long-term strategy to grow its US operations and enhance its integrated drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product capabilities. Herbeaux said: “This investment addresses growing customer demand for US-based capacity and integrated solutions that shorten development timelines and reduce tech transfer complexity. By consolidating development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing within a single quality and governance framework, we provide customers with seamless execution from drug substance to drug product.” The company’s New Jersey expansion fits into its wider international growth plan that also includes capacity investments in Ireland and Portugal as it seeks to create a network of autonomous sites spanning the development and commercialisation of APIs, drug product intermediates and drug products.   Read the full article at EuropeanPharmaceuticalReview.com  

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Hovione doubles spray drying capacity with $100m US investment round

Nov 04, 2025

The latest from CDMOs, CMOs, and suppliers featuring Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lonza, SK pharmteco/Lotte Biologics, Hovione, Sai Life Sciences, BioCina, Alcami, Piramal Pharma/IntoCell and Roquette. Formulation Development/Drug Product Manufacturing: Hovione Completes Initial $100-M Investment Cycle in US Operations Hovione, a CDMO of drug substances and drug products, has completed an initial $100-million investment cycle at its site in East Windsor, New Jersey, as part of a strategy to increase its US operations and enhance its integrated drug-substance, drug-product intermediate, and drug-product capabilities. Upon completion, the site will cover more than 200,000 square feet.   The initial expansion phase includes a 31,000-square-foot building that will house two size-3 spray dryers (PSD-3) designed for production of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). This investment more than doubles Hovione’s spray-drying capacity in the US by expanding capabilities for ASD development and commercial manufacturing. Construction is underway at the New Jersey site, with GMP operations planned to start in the second quarter of 2026.  As part of this expansion, Hovione has also acquired additional adjacent land to enable future growth at the East Windsor site. The 125,000-square-foot greenfield will support large-scale production, including continuous and batch tableting capacity, and introduce the latest pharmaceutical technologies and digital innovation with enhanced quality control and R&D capabilities.    Read the full article at DCATvci.org  

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Supplier News: Thermo Fisher, Lonza, SK pharmteco, Hovione & More

Oct 30, 2025

Today marks the start of CPhI Frankfurt, a huge trade show in Germany focused on the supply of pharmaceutical ingredients and other services to the drug industry. C&EN editor in chief Nick Perkins, life sciences editor Laura Howes, and reporter Aayushi Pratap are all there to meet drug outsourcing executives and take the pulse of the sector. In advance of CPhI, Cambrex and Wilmington PharmaTech both just announced big investments in US plants that make active pharmaceutical ingredients. And the Portuguese pharmaceutical services firm Hovione says it has completed a $100 million investment in New Jersey (story below). (...) Hovione invests in spray-drying in New Jersey The pharmaceutical services firm Hovione says it has spent $100 million to expand its operation in East Windsor, New Jersey. The facility spray-dries drug ingredients to create amorphous solid dispersions, which improve solubility and bioavailability. The Portuguese company says the new spray dryers will begin operating in the second quarter of 2026. The New Jersey facility opened in 2002, making Hovione one of the longest-established European pharmaceutical services firms in the US, CEO Jean-Luc Herbeaux says in a press release. Hovione says it has purchased land adjacent to the East Windsor site on which it can add new facilities for services such as spray-drying and drug tableting. Hovione is also investing at its sites in Ireland and Portugal. —Michael McCoy   Read the full article at CEN.acs.org  

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Oct. 28 Business Watch: More plants closing in Europe, Novartis to pay $12 billion for biotech firm

Oct 28, 2025