Press Room

The Sustainability Report 2019-2020 is published under the title “Elements of the future. For tomorrow and beyond, no matter what.”  This is the fourth Sustainability Report published by Hovione and is intended to demonstrate our accountability to our stakeholders by communicating the company's progress on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) topics. The Report also reflects our alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).  The report has been prepared in line with the Global Reporting Initiative Standards content and quality principles, to ensure information accuracy, clarity and reliability. These standards enable greater transparency and accountability of organizations, by enhancing global comparability and quality of information around ESG performance. The information covers all our owned manufacturing and research facilities worldwide and the data presented is global. As a company, we want to manufacture and deliver medicines of the highest quality to the patients aligned with our commitment to operating a sustainable business. We have as reference the highest standards of safety and environmental performance, staffed by an engaged and diverse workforce. Being “In it for life” means that we are committed to protecting our people, our communities, our partners and the environment around us.   Find more about Sustainability at Hovione  

News
The sustainability report covers the fiscal years 2019 and 2020

Hovione releases its 4th Sustainability Report

Jul 14, 2022

On June 29th, at the COTEC Innovation Summit, Hovione’s case study, presented in partnership with WeADD, received an honorable mention at the “Innovation in Ecosystem” 2022 competition. The ceremony took place at the Aveiro Congress Center, and João Ventura, Business Director Inhalation Solutions, represented our company. Hovione was a finalist following a presentation provided together with WeADD, during the COTEC Xperience 4.0 sessions, as part of a collaboration that supports the development of the product “8Shot Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI)”. COTEC Portugal is a multisectoral business association that promoted four central axes in this edition of the COTEC Innovation Summit: Industrialization, Sustainability, Knowledge and Competitiveness.   Learn more about our Devices    

News
COTEC Innovation Summit

Hovione receives an honorable mention at the “Innovation in Ecosystem 2022” competition

Jun 30, 2022

CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council) celebrated its 50th anniversary with the recreation of an iconic photograph dating from 1927. More than 30 Europe’s top chemistry professors, including two Nobel Prize laureates & 21 PhD students from all across the Europe gathered at the historic setting of the Brussels Metropole Hotel to recreate the iconic 1927Solvay picture featuring Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Albert Einstein. Rute Mota, PhD student at Hovione under the EngIQ Program, was chosen to represent Portugal. EngIQ is a successful program that promotes the integration of students in a business environment, co-founded by APQuímica of which Hovione is associated. The original photo included the best European scientists in the field of chemistry at the time and to show continuity a photo was taken this year bringing together some of the most promising PhD students in the field of chemistry at the European level (one per EU Member State).     Learn more about this initiative at CEFIC.org    

News
CEFIC remakes the iconic 1927 photo. 34 renowned chemistry professors and 21 young European scientists recreate the iconic photo featuring Curie and Einstein

PhD student represents Hovione in the iconic photo featuring Curie and Einstein

Jun 28, 2022

Collaboration is key to achieving our climate goals. Together with the Business in the Community Ireland Low Carbon Pledge, we continue to be committed to climate action as part of a movement of 70 businesses. Setting and working towards the achievement of science-based emissions reduction targets, together with peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, are some of the key actions we are taking to transition to a net-zero future. Today the 4th Annual Low Carbon Pledge Report progress report was published sharing the steady progress of our collective movement. Being part of this collective movement is strategic for Hovione Cork as we are committed to doing our part for a better world. As part of Hovione’s commitment to climate action, we are proud to be a Business in the Community Ireland Low Carbon Pledge signatory. The Low Carbon Pledge is the first dedicated pledge generated by Irish businesses to set industry standards on sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. Originally launched in 2018, the Pledge has now evolved and calls on all Irish businesses to work collectively towards setting science-based targets and achieving our long-term climate goals of net-zero by 2050.   You can download a copy of the 4th Annual Low Carbon Pledge Report at BITC.ie   Find more about Sustainability at Hovione          

News
4th Annual Low Carbon Pledge Report

The Low Carbon Pledge

Jun 23, 2022

In this episode of the Drug Solutions Podcast, Feliza Mirasol, science editor, discusses the changing parameters for oral solid dosage forms as driven by APIs and new chemical entities with Deepak Thassu, vice-president R&D and Regulatory Submission, LGM Pharma, and Marco Gil, senior vice-president of Sales & Marketing, Hovione.     Oral solid dosage forms are a dynamic, ever-changing landscape, driven primarily by more highly potent new chemical entities (NCEs) that require particularly specific formulations. In this Drug Solutions Podcast episode, Deepak Thassu, vice-president R&D and Regulatory Submission, LGM Pharma, and Marco Gil, senior vice-president of Sales & Marketing, Hovione, discuss how, in addition to NCEs, older, more established APIs are finding renewed life because these APIs are continually enhanced to have higher potency at lower doses, changing the way their formulation is handled. Looking toward the future, the bio/pharma industry is also tackling the issue of converting large-molecule (biologic) drugs into orally administered dosage, rather than parenteral administration, for increased patient compliance. Among the issues discussed are: The latest developments in oral solid dosage technology and methodologies What remains the biggest challenges in formulating APIs for oral solid dosage administration How the industry is tackling the issue of enhancing bioavailability through better oral solid dosage formulations/technologies, etc. Some “best-practice” approaches to formulating oral solid dosage products   You might be interested in: Learning more about our optimal solutions for complex drug products Making your drug soluble with Dispersome® technology    

Article
PharmTech.com, 21 June 2022

Drug Solutions Podcast: The Evolving Landscape of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

Jun 21, 2022

Lisbon, Portugal and Shanghai, China, 9 May 2022 – Hovione, the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, announced today an exclusive license agreement for a preclinical ophthalmology program, JX08, with Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals Limited (JIXING).  JIXING is a biotechnology company headquartered in Shanghai and backed by RTW Investments, LP (RTW), a leading life sciences investment firm, that is focused on advancing innovative medicines for patients with ophthalmic and cardiovascular diseases. Under the license agreement, JIXING will receive global rights to JX08 and lead the full life cycle of development from preclinical through commercialization.  “We are excited to partner with Hovione and today’s agreement further strengthens JIXING’s ophthalmology pipeline beyond its current focus on presbyopia and dry eye disease,” said Peter Fong, PhD, board executive director, JIXING. “In addition, this agreement marks a significant step for the company as it highlights its development from a China focused, late clinical-stage biotech to an innovation pioneer with full life cycle development capabilities to reach customers and patients globally.” “We are extremely pleased to enter into this partnership with JIXING and help the company build upon its existing ophthalmology pipeline while further enhancing Hovione’s leadership position in spray dried dispersions” said Marco Gil, VP Sales at Hovione adding “Our highly experienced and committed teams can support pharma and biotech companies worldwide on their path to clinical success and commercialization, offering the best scale-up science, extensive manufacturing capacity and an excellent approval track record.” This Global License Agreement is aligned with Hovione’s strategy to offer integrated product solutions for drug delivery that co-create value with its partners and enable the development of innovative medicines that maximize patient benefit.  Destum Partners acted as business development and licensing transaction advisor to Hovione.      About JIXING: JIXING is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Shanghai committed to bringing innovative science and medicines to underserved patients in China with serious and life-threatening diseases. Backed by RTW Investments, LP, JIXING was founded in 2019 and partners with global biotechnology companies to develop and commercialize novel, innovative therapeutics to treat unmet medical needs in cardiovascular and ophthalmic diseases. With a strong and further developing asset pipeline, seasoned management team, and patient-centric focus, JIXING is dedicated to delivering a meaningful and lasting impact on patients in Greater China. For further information about JIXING, please visit www.jixingbio.com    About Hovione: Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a fully integrated offering of services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. 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 is the only independent company offering a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione is a company with a culture based on innovation, quality and delivery. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to become a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.    

Press Release
Hovione, the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, announced today an exclusive license agreement for a preclinical ophthalmology program, JX08, with Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals Limited (JIXING).

Hovione and JIXING Announce an Exclusive Global License Agreement for Ophthalmology Program

May 09, 2022

Hovione has appointed as CEO its chief operating officer, Jean-Luc Herbeaux, effective April 1. Herbeaux succeeds Guy Villax, who has been CEO of the family-owned pharmaceutical services company for 25 years. Herbeaux joined the firm in 2020. He previously held several management positions at the German chemical maker Evonik Industries, where his final role was head of the health-care business. In November, he and Villax outlined a $170 million investment program through 2023 that they said will increase Hovione’s production capacity by about 25%. Villax is credited with moving the company into the exclusive synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for drug industry customers. Hovione, one of several family-owned drug services companies in Europe, saw sales grow by 10 times under Villax’s stewardship. Major investments included the purchase of a Pfizer plant in Ireland in 2009. Villax says Hovione’s board chose to hire a nonfamily CEO in response to growth over the past 5 years. “When a company employs 1,600 or 1,700, you need skills that other people have much more developed than I have,” he tells C&EN. Hovione has about 2,000 employees.   Read the article on cen.acs.org and the full article (restricted content)      

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C&EN, 6 March 2022

Hovione promotes Herbeaux to CEO

Mar 06, 2022

Lisbon, Portugal, 25 February 2022 – Hovione today announced that the Board of Directors and the shareholders have approved the appointment of Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux as Hovione’s Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st April 2022.     Guy Villax, who has been Hovione’s CEO for the past 25 years will now serve as a Member of the Board and shareholder. During his tenure, Hovione grew tenfold.  The company currently employs 2000 team members, serves the global market from four production sites in 3 regions, and is recognized as a leader in its field.       The Board of Directors expresses its thanks to Guy Villax for his dedication and outstanding achievements. During his career at Hovione, Guy Villax was also involved with the EFCG and Rx-360 associations and contributed to legislation being passed on both sides of the Atlantic to fight fake medicines and to level the playing field for GMP manufacturing.     “It has been a privilege and honor to lead Hovione over the last decades. Hovione is a great company because of its people and its clients. It has been an amazing entrepreneurial and human journey with so many projects and unforgettable success stories. I have seen this company, founded by my parents, growing, evolving and constantly re-inventing itself”, said Guy Villax. “Dr. Herbeaux joined Hovione nearly two years ago as COO and from day 1 brought change and contributed to financial and business successes.  We have worked together both on the strategy which will take Hovione to the next level and on making this transition smooth. I am certain that both the company and our Team-Members will continue to thrive under his leadership”, added Guy Villax.       “I am honored to be entrusted with the role of Hovione’s CEO and I am deeply motivated to lead this team of talented professionals. Building on Guy Villax´s legacy of innovation and customer intimacy, we will continue to work to drive long-term growth for both ourselves and our customers maintaining the Hovione values. Hovione puts customers and patients at the center of everything it does and this focus will not change. Our customers can expect us to continue to deliver on what we promise and to offer innovative approaches to their project needs.”, said Jean-Luc Herbeaux.     Before joining Hovione in May 2020, Dr. Herbeaux held multiple high-level leadership positions at Evonik, where he last headed the Health Care Business Line Dr. Herbeaux holds both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a research focus on Rheology from the University of Houston.       About Hovione: Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland, and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded 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 and services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to became a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in the industry standard setting process.          

Press Release
Hovione today announced the appointment of Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux as Hovione’s Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st April 2022

Jean-Luc Herbeaux to become Hovione CEO

Feb 25, 2022

Lisbon, 22nd February 2022 – Hovione, the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, announced today a strategic partnership with Zerion Pharma to market and commercialize Dispersome®, Zerion´s proprietary solubility enhancement technology platform.   Zerion´s innovative Dispersome® technology builds on a new concept of increasing drug solubility by using natural protein-based excipients to formulate APIs into amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) by spray drying. By combining Dispersome® technology with Hovione’s unique spray drying capabilities, experience in development, scale-up and GMP manufacturing, Hovione further strengthens its leadership in amorphous solid dispersions and shows its commitment to innovative solutions to overcome one of the most prevalent challenges faced by the industry: low drug solubility.    “We are extremely pleased to have entered into this partnership with Zerion whom we recognize as a very innovative company in the field of oral drug formulations. By joining forces, Zerion and Hovione will be able to bring Dispersome® to the market faster. We look forward to applying the technology in collaboration with our customers and partners in our effort to develop novel drugs with strong benefits to patients.”, comments Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione´s Chief Operating Officer. “Hovione will continue to pursue opportunities to enhance its offering around core areas of expertise such as particle engineering and inhalation by partnering with companies and research institutions developing innovative drug formulation technologies, like Dispersome®”.   Zerion´s CEO, Ole Wiborg, sees a strong synergy in the partnership and expects it to generate new pharma partnerships. “We consider Hovione the global leader in the field of producing amorphous solid dispersions by spray-drying. More importantly for us, this leadership has resulted in Hovione being, over the last 5 years, the main commercial manufacturer of novel FDA-approved drugs formulated as amorphous solid dispersions. Incorporating these competencies in our offering to the pharma industry both validates the strength of our Dispersome® platform and provides us and our pharma partners immediate access to the highest quality in upscaling and commercial GMP manufacturing.” says Ole Wiborg.   The announcement of this partnership follows Hovione’s communication on a further expansion with an expected investment of $170 million in assets worldwide and shows the company’s commitment to also expand its technology platforms. Hovione is investing both in new assets and innovative technologies to meet customer demand for integrated and differentiated services in drug substance manufacturing, particle engineering and most recently drug product manufacturing.   About Hovione: Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a fully integrated offering of services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. 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 is the only independent company offering a complete range of services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione is a company with a culture based on innovation, quality and delivery. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to become a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.   About Zerion Pharma ApS: Zerion has pioneered the Dispersome® technology that greatly enhances the solubility of poorly soluble, oral drugs and improves bioavailability and therapeutic outcomes for the patients. The Dispersome® technology is based on preparing stable amorphous formulations by mixing high loads of the drug compound with beta-lactoglobulin, a sustainable and biodegradable by-product from cheese production. Zerion develops proprietary drug formulations and offers the Dispersome® technology to established pharma companies as a means to solve their most challenging drug solubility problems. Zerion was established in 2019 as a spinout from the University of Copenhagen based on almost a decade of research.     (Dispersome® is a trademark of Zerion Pharma A/S)     Learn more about Dispersome® technology  

Press Release
Hovione, the leader in spray drying and particle engineering, announced today a strategic partnership with Zerion Pharma to market and commercialize Dispersome®, Zerion´s proprietary solubility enhancement technology platform.

Hovione and Zerion Pharma announce a strategic partnership to market the Dispersome® technology platform

Feb 22, 2022

Lisbon, Portugal, 18th February 2022 – Hovione announced today that effective March 1st, or as existing contracts allow, it will increase prices for its Products and Offerings for the global pharmaceutical industry, such as Minocycline, Doxycycline, Ivermectin, Fluticasone, and Mometasone. The necessity of price adjustments stems from increases in the costs of raw materials, labor, energy, transportation, packaging, equipment, and maintenance. Price increases of up to 40% for off-patent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Portfolio Products are required to offset these effects and continue to provide products sustainably to the market. For Development and Manufacturing Services, price increases will be applied to recalibrate the price to cost ratios based on the specific conditions of each program. Hovione is dedicated to supporting the global pharmaceutical industry and patients around the globe with consistent and reliable supply meeting the most stringent technical, quality, and compliance requirements. We continue to invest in our people, sites, technologies, and products to ensure we meet this commitment. In case you have any questions about these price increases, please contact your account manager.   About Hovione: Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland, and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded 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 and services, from API, formulation development and devices. Hovione was the first Chemical/ Pharmaceutical Company to become a Certified B Corp, is a member of Rx-360, EFCG and participates actively in industry quality improvement initiatives to lead new global industry standards.  

Press Release
News release, 18 February 2022

Hovione increases prices for its off-patent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Portfolio Products as well as Development and Manufacturing Services

Feb 18, 2022

The Mark is operated by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the non-profit organisation dedicated to sustainability and third-party audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). Seven companies achieved the Mark for the first time with another ten achieving recertification.       Press Release Thursday 17th February:  Over 200 business leaders attended Business in the Community Ireland’s virtual celebration event where the latest companies certified to the Business Working Responsibly mark in 2021/2022 were announced. The Mark which is run by Business in the Community Ireland and based on ISO 26000 is valid for three years and is independently audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). Seven companies are being accredited to the Mark for the first time this year and they are Alkermes, An Post, Grant Thornton Ireland, Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail, Ornua, Vermilion and William Fry. In addition, ten companies achieved recertification to the Mark and they are Boots (Retail) Ireland Ltd, BT Ireland, Central Bank of Ireland, CRH Operating Companies in Ireland, Deloitte Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland, HEINEKEN Ireland, Hovione, Intel Ireland and Sodexo Ireland. 46 companies in Ireland have now achieved the sustainability standard. The Mark  looks at leadership, policies, practices, performance and impact in areas such as employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, environmental practices, supply chain management and engagement with the local community. For more details on our sustainability standard, visit the Business Working Responsibly mark section of our website.    Read the full article on BITC.ie    

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BITCI Ireland, 17 February 2022

Seven Companies in Ireland achieve the Business Working Responsibly mark with a further ten recertifying to the standard

Feb 17, 2022

The Portuguese drug services firm Hovione has outlined a $170 million investment program through 2023 that it says will increase its production capacity by about 25%. In East Windsor, New Jersey, where Hovione is investing $50 million, the company will add two spray dryers, tripling capacity, and expand its capacity to make research- and small-scale quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). “We are looking to build this up to a significant site for Hovione with more than 300 people,” says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, the firm’s chief operating officer. Hovione currently employs about 150 people in New Jersey. In Cork, Ireland, it will spend about $50 million to upgrade its high-potency API production and add a spray dryer. In Loures, Portugal, Hovione is spending $70 million on additions such as a new manufacturing building and an eight-lab quality control facility. These projects, some of which are already complete, will take up all the available space at the Loures site, according to CEO Guy Villax. “Last year we broke $300 million in sales,” Villax says, and the firm is targeting $400 million this year. “The company needs to be less Portuguese. You will see us invest and grow our footprint more in the US than elsewhere.”The Portuguese drug services firm Hovione has outlined a $170 million investment program through 2023 that it says will increase its production capacity by about 25%. In East Windsor, New Jersey, where Hovione is investing $50 million, the company will add two spray dryers, tripling capacity, and expand its capacity to make research- and small-scale quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). “We are looking to build this up to a significant site for Hovione with more than 300 people,” says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, the firm’s chief operating officer. Hovione currently employs about 150 people in New Jersey. In Cork, Ireland, it will spend about $50 million to upgrade its high-potency API production and add a spray dryer. In Loures, Portugal, Hovione is spending $70 million on additions such as a new manufacturing building and an eight-lab quality control facility. These projects, some of which are already complete, will take up all the available space at the Loures site, according to CEO Guy Villax. “Last year we broke $300 million in sales,” Villax says, and the firm is targeting $400 million this year. “The company needs to be less Portuguese. You will see us invest and grow our footprint more in the US than elsewhere.”   Read the entire article on CEN.acs.org  

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C&EN, 21 November 2021

Hovione will expand 3 pharmaceutical chemistry facilities

Jan 24, 2022

Solid growth and sizable investments will continue in the pharmaceutical services sector as contract manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drug intermediates move into a third year of navigating the unpredictable impact of the pandemic. “Aside from what you can’t predict, it’s a very good time to be in contract services,” says Wayne Weiner, who heads the consulting firm PharmaTech Solutions. “It doesn’t seem the funding will dry up for biotechs, which are really driving a lot of the innovation.” And biotech innovators without production assets are increasingly bringing drug candidates to market themselves rather than licensing to larger drug companies, thus generating longer-term contracts with service firms, Weiner says. But James Bruno, president of another consulting firm, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Solutions, sees a red flag. “I think we are going to be short on capacity all year,” he says. “Everybody seems to be booked.”   Managers at service firms agree that capacity constraint is a concern, and they point to continued investment in new capacity in response. Hovione, CordenPharma, and Pharmteco are among the companies with plans to add small-molecule API capacity. Hovione is expanding on both sides of the Atlantic; the Portuguese firm is 2 years into a 3-year program that is expected to increase overall capacity by 25%. CordenPharma will expand clinical-scale peptide production in Frankfurt, Germany, and solid-dose drug output in Plankstadt, Germany. Pharmteco is expanding API production in South Korea and is adding capacity at a newly acquired cell and gene therapy site in France.   While service providers are likely to continue broadening their offerings beyond small-molecule API production in 2022, services for the emerging cell and gene therapy industry will develop on a parallel track and attract only a handful of the largest traditional firms. Cell and gene therapy is getting a lot of attention, Bruno says, but most of the investment in the drug services sector will continue to be in small-molecule production.   Read the article at CEN.org  

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C&EN, 17 January 2022

Pharmaceutical services to grow for another year

Jan 17, 2022

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