Press Room

Event

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.

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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Twenty companies presented at the annual kickoff to DCAT Week. The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) opened DCAT Week 2026 with its Member Company Announcement Forum. The kickoff to the annual event in New York City, underway from March 23–26, 2026, showcased 20 companies. These were selected based on their announcements’ “news priority, criticality, and interest” to DCAT member companies. The following is a summary of highlights from the presentations, supplemented by additional information provided by some of the companies. (...) Hovione Hovione’s Vice President of Technical Operations for the Americas, David Basile, delivered the company’s Member Company Announcement Forum presentation. Basile will be speaking exclusively with Contract Pharma during DCAT Week, so check back for more on Hovione’s latest. Read the full article at ContractPharma.com

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DCAT Member Company Announcement Forum 2026: An Inside Look

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With more than six decades of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, Hovione is an international CDMO offering a comprehensive range of services for New Molecular Entities (NMEs), including drug substances, intermediates, and drug products. The company also supplies niche generic APIs and delivers advanced technologies supporting multiple drug delivery platforms, including oral, injectable, inhalation, and topical formulations. Today, Hovione employs 2,500 people worldwide and operates 900 m3 of manufacturing capacity across four sites in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Japan has played an important role in the company’s global strategy since its early years. Initial export activities were followed in 2017 by the establishment of a Japanese subsidiary in Osaka. Read the full article in Japanese at Yakuji.co.jp Read the article translated in English

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Yakuji Nippo Magazine, 13 March 2026

International CDMO strengthens its presence in Japan: from active pharmaceutical ingredients to formulations, all at the same location

Mar 13, 2026

In an interview with Executiva, a portuguese media outlet focused on women´s leadership, Diane Villax, co-founder and long-standing leader of Hovione, reflects on her journey and the company’s development over more than six decades. Diane Villax’s career began at a time when few women worked outside the home. At 19, she joined a trading company as a foreign languages correspondent, where she developed essential business skills — including commercial correspondence, banking and export procedures — that later proved instrumental in helping her husband, Ivan Villax, establish Hovione in 1959. From its earliest days operating in the family home in Lisbon, Hovione adopted an international outlook. The company’s first major customers were in Japan, setting demanding quality standards that helped shape its long-term position in global markets. Over the following decades, Hovione expanded its footprint with the construction of its first manufacturing site in Loures (1969), followed by expansion to Macau (1986), the United States (New Jersey, early 2000s) and Ireland (Cork). The company grew into a global organization with more than 2,500 employees — including over 300 scientists — and a reputation as a preferred supplier to leading pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Throughout the interview, Diane highlights the values that have guided the company’s development: a commitment to excellence, a strong work ethic, and a focus on quality and long-term relationships. Although she did not have formal business training, she learned “on the job” and brought discipline, precision and structure to her role — particularly in the company’s early financial and administrative leadership. Now in her nineties and an active member of Hovione’s Board of Directors, Diane Villax remains engaged with the company’s evolution and governance, reflecting a continued commitment to its long-term development. Her story reflects entrepreneurial drive, resilience and long-term leadership — and offers insight into the values that have shaped Hovione’s trajectory for more than six decades. Read the full interview at Executiva.pt (in portuguese).

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Executiva, 23 February 2026

Hovione’s Diane Villax: “I was not brought up to be a business woman”

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