Press Room

Press Release / Apr 12, 2004

Hovione launches new Particle Design technology and state-of-the-art Spray Drying facilities

Hovione is pleased to announce that it has installed a new state-of-the-art Spray Drying facility to address the latest technology in particle design.

Hovione is pleased to announce that it has installed a new state-of-the-art Spray Drying facility to address the latest technology in particle design. The unit, installed at Hovione's API manufacturing plant in Portugal, operates under the most stringent cGMP conditions both as a conventional spray dryer for very fine particles ( 5 - 10µ) and as a fluidized spray dryer for agglomerated, free-flowing dustless materials (100 - 400µ).

Supplied and designed by Niro A/S to the most advanced specifications, this multipurpose unit is capable of evaporating 35 to 90 Kg of water per hour and is equipped with two atomizer systems (a pressure nozzle and co-current two-fluid nozzle). The spray dryer is fit to deliver injectable grade APIs and is configured to be "cleaned-in-place", discharging into a classified clean-room.

The facility allows Hovione to produce dry solids in either powder, granulate or agglomerate form from liquid feedstocks such as solutions, emulsions and pumpable suspensions. This technology enables continuous production, at low-cost and with a high degree of precision over particle design; it allows control of particle size over a wide range of sizes ( 5 to 400µ), as well as control over bulk density and degree of crystallinity. When operating as a fluidized spray dryer, the unit produces free-flowing dustless materials, which are uniform and can be used directly in tableting.

The system meets the most stringent explosion-proof requirements and can therefore spray-dry out of most organic solvents in a safe and compliant environment. It uses nitrogen in a closed cycle as the drying gas thus enhancing its safety and economical production aspects.

The spray drying facility is the result of a close collaboration between Hovione and Niro; the supplier of the equipment has described the unit as one of the most flexible and versatile GMP compliant spray-dryers that they have ever built. Hovione will be presenting its new technology and facility at Biofine in Berlin, on May 5th and 6th, stand nr. E3.

In its programme to expand scientific know-how in advanced technologies, Hovione is actively developing expertise in other particle design techniques:

  • Supercritical Crystallization - this technology offers a trouble-free separation of the product from the solvent and the capability to control the size and form of the crystals. The principle is based on replacing a conventional solvent with a supercritical fluid, which may act as a solvent or as an anti-solvent. This technique may be used to produce very small particles with narrow size distribution.
     
  • Ultra Sound Assisted Crystallization- this technology uses ultrasound to influence crystallization behavior by promoting cavitations within the liquid media, which serve as nuclei for new crystals to form. Benefits can include improved crystal habit, purity and the ability to manipulate crystal-size distribution and powder flow characteristics. It also offers a useful and more controllable alternative to seeding.

Hovione is an international group dedicated to the process development and synthesis of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) serving exclusively the pharmaceutical industry. With FDA inspected plants in Europe and the Far East and a Technology Transfer Centre in New Jersey, USA, Hovione is committed to the highest levels of service and quality. Hovione's capabilities include process chemistry, worldwide regulatory affairs, kilo to multi-ton manufacture of complex multi-step chemistry of APIs under FDA and ICH cGMP quality standards.

Note: please be informed that we have photos of the spray dryer available, contact us.

Also in the Press Room

See All

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  

Press Clipping
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).    

Article
Executiva, 23 February 2026

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

Feb 23, 2026

Márcio Temtem, vice president, Strategic Business Management, Hovione, addresses molecule complexity, speed, and regionalization via integrated manufacturing. The landscape of small molecule manufacturing is rapidly evolving, according to Márcio Temtem, vice president, Strategic Business Development, Hovione, who provides an expert look into how his firm is evolving their approach as the industry changes. With 17 years of experience at Hovione, a family-owned CDMO with a 66-year legacy, Temtem identifies three pivotal trends currently shaping the industry: increased complexity, accelerated development speed, and the regionalization of supply chains. Temtem observes that small molecules have grown significantly in size and complexity, often requiring multiple chemical steps and high-potency handling. This shift necessitates a specialized "toolbox" to overcome modern bioavailability challenges. Highlighting Hovione's technical approach to these hurdles, Temtem states, "We use a platform called amorphous solid dispersions, produced by spray drying to address this challenge of bioavailability.” This platform represents a core area in which Hovione maintains global leadership, utilizing innovative tools to scale processes efficiently while minimizing the use of APIs. Temtem also mentions the increased influence of AI in drug discovery and deployment, which requires CDMOs to bridge the gap from grams to tons at a much faster pace than in previous years. He further addresses the trend of regionalization, noting the rise of countries such as the US and China prioritizing regional supply chain strategies. He explains that Hovione is uniquely positioned to navigate these new challenges with supply chains through its FDA-inspected sites across three continents. Central to Hovione’s competitive advantage is their integrated manufacturing offer, which combines drug substance and drug product expertise at a single location. Temtem emphasizes the value of this model, stating, “The company… has been investing in an integrated offer, bridging the problems of chemists and formulators all at the same shop.” To support this integration, the company continues to pioneer advanced manufacturing avenues, including continuous flow for drug substances and continuous tableting for drug products. Watch the full video interview or read the transcript at PharmTech.com  

Article
PharmTech, 6 February 2026

Hovione’s Strategy for Complexity, Speed, and Regional Supply Chains

Feb 06, 2026

Also in Events

See All