The CPHI Content Team takes a look ahead at the key event in the pharma space in North America

CPHI North America is where the world’s largest healthcare economy meets with global pharma markets, ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers and all parts of the supply chain. Being held at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre on 25-27 April, the event acts as a central hub for the US drug development and manufacturing industry and features a who’s who of international pharma leaders, innovators and developers.

Evonik is making a “mid-double-digit million euro investment” in a production facility for its Aeroxide brand of fumed aluminium oxide at its site in Yokkaichi, Japan (pictured). This will be its first alumina plant in Asia and will be geared to making ultra-thin separator coatings the next generation lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Construction will begin this summer for a scheduled opening in 2025.

CDMO Flamma Group is to invest about $200 million over the next three years across its network of sites in Italy, the US and China, as it “continues to respond to market demands that require future growth and opportunity”. This includes:

* Revamping the site at Bulciago, Italy, that was acquired in 2022

* Completing the new GMP facility at the Flamma Honkai site in Dalian, China, where small molecule API and NCE capacity will ultimately quadruple to 800 m³ to meet growing domestic demand

Following a review over the past few months of its of its manufacturing capacity relative to customer needs and market trends across its product portfolio, Veranova’s Macfarlan Smith subsidiary has announced a proposal to close its facility at Newbie, near Annan in Scotland. It will now conduct statutory consultation requirements under UK law.

CEO Niek Stapel said: “Every effort has been made to avoid proposing the closure of the plant. This was a difficult decision to make which in no way reflects the performance or commitment of our colleagues at Annan.”

CDMO Curia is to collaborate with Corning’s Advanced-Flow Reactor (AFR) team to expand and accelerate continuous flow development and manufacturing for the chemical and biopharmaceutical industries.  This includes installing Corning’s G1 production system (pictured), designed for the continuous industrial production of APIs at Curia’s Albany facility.

Under a newly signed partnership, AGC Pharma Chemicals and CatSci will combine to offer the former’s expertise in GMP manufacturing from development and manufacturing through to commercial with the latter’s in chemical development, analytical development, crystallisation and solid form, pre-formulation and HPAPI capabilities.

Following two years of construction work, CDMO Siegfried has officially opened its new development centre for drug products at its sites in Barberà del Vallès and El Masnou near Barcelona. About 40 specialist scientists will work there.

The centre features laboratories and pilot capacities, including dedicated facilities for highly potent oral solid dosage forms. Siegfried said that the opening also completes the successful integration of the two sites into its network. It originally acquired them from Novartis in 2020.