Press Room

Lisbon, Portugal – Hovione, the specialist integrated pharma CDMO and leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced its commitment to setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs) in line with the Paris Agreement. This ambitious step underscores the company’s dedication to addressing climate change and driving sustainability across its operations. By committing to SBTs, Hovione joins a growing number of businesses taking concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative aligns with the company’s broader sustainability strategy and reinforces its commitment to scientific excellence. “At Hovione, we believe in science and in best practices. And this clearly applies to our sustainability agenda.”, said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione. We made the decision to drive our GHG emissions down using a science-based target setting process, which will help us drive sustainability across our operations by laying out a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. We believe that by setting ambitious targets and implementing concrete actions, we can make a positive impact on the planet while driving innovation and growth.” Hovione will work closely with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to develop and validate its emission reduction targets. The company will provide regular updates on its progress towards achieving these goals. As part of its commitment to sustainability and transparency to stakeholders, the company will enhance its Ecovadis rating. Ecovadis, a leading sustainability assessment platform in the pharmaceutical industry, provides a comprehensive evaluation of a company’s environmental, social, and ethical performance, well aligned with Hovione’s sustainability ambitions.  Hovione remains dedicated to operating responsibly and contributing positively to society and the environment. The company will continue to implement sustainable practices across its operations and innovate to further improve its sustainability rating.   Learn more about Science Based-Targets  

News

Hovione Commits to Science-Based Targets for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Sep 09, 2024

Lisbon, May 21, 2024 – Hovione has placed fourth among the best companies to work in Portugal and was again the best in the Health Sector according to Randstad´s Employer Brand Research. The research, which was published yesterday, identified the 20 best employers in Portugal. This is the ninth annual edition of Ranstad´s study, which is based on a representative sample of the Portuguese workforce. The respondents evaluate companies according to a range of different criteria, including salary and benefits, job security, work atmosphere, and career progression opportunities. Employer branding can have a significant impact on an organization's ability to attract and retain top talent and so is becoming an increasingly important part of a company a strategy to address the talent shortage challenge.  Ilda Ventura, VP of Human Resources at Hovione explains that “Our global HR strategy is built on the need to attract, retain and empower our talented team members. Therefore, our Employer Branding needs to reflect the reality of who we are, so that we don’t just attract new talent but allow current team members to flourish. It also needs to capture the positive impact that Hovione has on the world, and how our innovative work relies on the knowledge and problem solving of our team members. We continue to work on refining and improving the work we do on our EB. This too is an important reflection of our values, and our belief in continuous improvement.” This is the third successive year that has been ranked as the most attractive company to work for in the Health Sector and placed in the top five overall  This recognition comes after Hovione was recognized as a Top Employer in all four of its global sites in January 2024, becoming the first company in Macau to do so.    About Hovione Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices.     Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.  

News

Hovione again ranks among best employers in Portugal

May 21, 2024

The new company, which will be located in Portugal, will focus on the development of drug delivery solutions for emerging drug modalities. Cell and gene therapies represent a paradigm shift in modern medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to address previously untreatable diseases. ViSync solutions will help address some of the manufacturing challenges caused by the complex nature of new modalities, with special focus on stabilization, cell or tissue targeting and drug payload delivery.  Lisbon, 9th May 2024 – The specialist integrated CDMO and leader in pharmaceutical spray drying and particle engineering, and iBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica), a private not-for-profit research intensive SME in the area of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, today announced the creation of ViSync Technologies, a new joint venture located in Oeiras, close to Lisbon. The newly formed company will focus on developing innovative technologies and scalable solutions to help pharmaceutical companies address formulation and manufacturing challenges in transformative cell and gene therapies. Hovione has a strong track record in industrializing new technologies and supporting Pharma Companies with their clinical and commercial volume manufacturing needs, while iBET has a strong biological background and a global reputation for its scientific knowledge of the new therapeutic modalities space, particularly cell and gene therapy.  New modalities, such as gene and cell therapies, RNA drugs and other complex biologics, are a rapidly growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry. They promise to bring breakthroughs to the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer, genetic disorders, rare diseases and neurological conditions.  While this rapid growth has been driven by remarkable efficacy in addressing unmet clinical needs, the complex nature of the new modalities brings challenges, including limited drug administration options, immunogenic responses and off-target effects, issues with high dose delivery and high costs. The poor stability of these drugs is also an issue, resulting in the need for cold supply chains. ViSync will aim to develop novel technology platforms to address the unmet needs of pharmaceutical customers developing these transformative new products. “The creation of ViSync in collaboration with iBET marks an exciting new chapter in Hovione´s commitment to innovation”, said Dr Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione´s CEO. “New therapeutic modalities have the potential to bring radical improvements to current standards of care and we are thrilled to partner with iBET, a world-renowned expert organization in this area, to develop technology platforms that help customers bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide. The first step will be to assemble a team who possesses the knowledge, expertise, and ingenuity needed to navigate the complexities ahead." “The establishment of ViSync in partnership with Hovione represents a pivotal moment in iBET’s dedication to pioneering research in advanced therapies,” stated Dr. Paula Alves, iBET’s CEO. “The immense promise of these new modalities is at our reach and we are delighted to join forces with Hovione, a globally recognized leader in technological industrialization and drug delivery. In this common endeavor, we will gather the scientific and technical competences and skills to support our clients and partners in delivering groundbreaking therapies to patients globally.” ViSync will develop its own lab facility in Lisbon and expects to be able to start its research and development work by the end of 2024.   About Hovione Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. As a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) it has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products. The company has four FDA inspected sites in the USA, Portugal, Ireland and China and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA. Hovione provides pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs, including highly potent compounds, and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle. In the inhalation area, Hovione offers a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and manufacturing, capsule filling and devices.     Hovione's culture is based on innovation, quality and dependability. Hovione is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.   About iBET iBET is a private non-profit institution devoted to biotechnology research, with 35 years of experience creating and transferring knowledge to the global biopharma and biotech sectors. iBET’s core expertise lies on the development of bioprocessses and analytical tools for Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies, vaccines, antibodies and other innovative therapeutic products. Leveraged by the emerging areas of Data Science and Translational Immunology, we offer bespoke R&D services from early-stage R&D to GMP manufacturing.  iBET’s infrastructure comprises cutting-edge laboratories, a GMP certified Analytical Services Unit, and a Late-Stage R&D and Bioproduction Unit, covering upstream and downstream process development, bioanalytical tools for critical quality attribute monitoring, to scale-up and tech transfer. iBET also hosts satellite laboratories of major pharmaceutical companies and serves as an incubation platform for start-up/spin-off companies. iBET is driven by its innovative and agile culture of continuous improvement and a strong sense of ambition, ownership and commitment in developing and delivering the best solutions to our stakeholders.  

News

Hovione and iBET announce the creation of ViSync Technologies, an innovative new company that will develop solutions for unmet needs in cell and gene therapy

May 09, 2024

This year’s theme for International Women in Engineering Day is #makesafetyseen to celebrate the achievements of women around the world in engineering. Hear from some of our engineers as they share their career journeys and empower others to break barriers in the healthcare field. Thank you to Ana Rafael (Principal HSE Specialist) Catarina Coelho (Senior QC Technical Specialist), and Luísa Paulo (Corporate Quality Senior Director I) for making safety seen.  Read their statements here.   “I would like to say a word to empower young girls and show them the incredible potential of women in engineering. Engineering is not just about math and science — it's about designing safer, environmentally friendly systems, collaborating, and embracing entrepreneurship. As women in engineering, we are making a profound impact on society. I proudly graduated in Chemical Engineering from the University of Coimbra, where both boys and girls were determined to leave their mark on the world. I began my career as a researcher, simulating distillation processes. However, my passion for the environment led me to shift my focus towards engineering design for biofuels and environmental treatment plants. It was then that everything fell into place — I knew I wanted to create a better world. Years later, I seized the opportunity to start my own business, dedicated to enhancing the environmental efficiency and sustainability of various industries across Europe, KSA, and Angola. This journey taught me the importance of sustainable practices and the dedication required to secure our place in the future. Today, at Hovione, I’m able to balance both of my passions: contributing to life-saving medicines and ensuring that all of us do our jobs in a safely manner. For ourselves and for the communities where we are in. For the past 8 years, I have led and managed teams and projects, guiding Hovione sites towards a better, safer and more sustainable future. I never stop learning and embracing challenges. I believe in the power of women, driving positive change and breaking barriers. Together, we can create a safer world where women in engineering thrive and shape a brighter future for all." Ana Rafael - Principal HSE Specialist Hovione Portugal    "On International Women in Engineering Day, I take this time to reflect on my journey as a woman in the engineering field. One of the most rewarding experiences in my journey was the opportunity to work as Senior Analytical Chemist at Hovione. In this role, I had the privilege of contributing to the design and implementation of innovative solutions. On this special day, let us celebrate the remarkable achievements of women engineers worldwide. Together, we are transforming the landscape of engineering, breaking down barriers and forging a path for future generations of aspiring engineers." Catarina Coelho - Senior QC Technical Specialist Hovione Portugal   "I have been working as a Chemical Engineer for 40 years and I would like to motivate the young women who love engineering to pursue their dream. At Hovione, I have always felt appreciated and encouraged by my colleagues." Luísa Paulo - Corporate Quality Senior Director I Hovione New Jersey

News

2023 International Women Engineering Day

Jun 23, 2023

Last week, in an effort to increase energy security in the European Region and prepare for possible disruptions of gas supplies from Russia, the European Union (EU) member states reached a political agreement on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% this winter. To respond to this engagement, each Member State will need to define the measures it will adopt between the 1st of August 2022 and the 31st of March 2023. To reflect the individual situations of Member States, some exceptions are expected, however, at this date details are still unknown.    Although we do not expect the Hovione manufacturing operations to be affected, it is not unreasonable to expect that some of our suppliers of raw and starting materials may be impacted.  We are therefore preparing a risk mitigation plan, which includes strengthening our supply chain to reduce the impact that any disruption may have on our activity.    One option we decided to offer to our customers is to purchase raw materials early and store them closer to our manufacturing site. If you are interested in exploring this option or have questions or alternate proposals, please contact your Account Manager.    As your partner, we are committed to employing our best efforts to mitigate any serious impact that might get in the way of our delivering the products and services requested by our customers.   Thank you for your trust and collaboration through these unprecedented challenges.    Patients need us. We are In it for life.      

News

Approved gas reduction in the EU

Aug 08, 2022

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.