Press Room

News / May 11, 2017

Bioconnect Seminar at the Hovione Cork Site

The Hovione site welcomed close to 50 people from the Irish Pharma, Biotech and University sectors for a combined seminar with Bioconnect Ireland on the theme of Tech Transfer in the pharmaceutical industry.

Bioconnect Seminar at the Hovione Cork Site | Hovione

Paul Downing, General Manager of Hovione Cork, gave the opening address and introduced Jim Ryan CEO of Bioconnect Ireland who chaired the meeting. First on the Podium was Brian Harrison who previously held many management positions in Bristol-Myers-Squibb and now Managing Director of his own start-up outfit. He gave an overview of the Tech transfer process and the importance of aligning the same mindset on both the receiving site and transfer site. This followed by two of our own guest speakers Rui Loureiro and Márcio Temtem both of whom gave complementary presentations on techniques to overcome solubility issues and effective use of modeling to have a robust process for scale-up. The presentations were varied in their themes from Biotech start-ups to mainstream pharma distribution companies. An interesting QA session was followed by a group photo in front of Building 10. Paul Dunne European, Business Development Manager, presided over the wrap up before the site tour. The evening concluded with a networking and drinks reception in the China room.

Bioconnect Seminar at the Cork Site | Hovione

 

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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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