Aesica aims to double capacity and turnover with UCB plants
pharmafile | December 20, 2010 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â Aesica, UCB, pharma manufacturingÂ
UK contract manufacturer and ingredient supplier Aesica Pharmaceuticals is planning to double its production capacity with the acquisition of three European manufacturing sites from Belgian biopharmaceutical firm UCB.
The purchase of two sites in Germany and one in Italy marks the first expansion for Aesica outside the UK market, and also the start of a strategic partnership with UCB which Aesica believes will help it expand in Europe, the US and Asia.
Under the terms of the deal, Aesica will provide long-term manufacturing and supply services to UCB, as well as other customers, which will help in its objective of boosting annual turnover from around £100 million ($155m) to around £190 million next year and £300 million by the end of 2013, according to a Financial Times report.
A facility in Monheim, Germany, provides packaging and warehousing operations, as well as national distribution and artwork services, while the second in Zwickau handles pharmaceutical production. The site at Pianezza in Italy focuses on packaging operations. Around 600 workers will join Aesica, nearly doubling its current 650 headcount.
UCB’s chief executive Roch Doliveux said that this new partnership is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its manufacturing network, while securing supply of its products and ensuring a long-term future for the sites and employees.
Aesica said the new facilities would help it expand its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and formulation production business, which focuses mainly on oral dosage forms.
Commenting on the deal, Aesica chief executive Dr Robert Hardy said: “To have secured manufacturing sites in Europe and on such a large scale is testament to our commitment to ensuring Aesica is recognised as a leading player on the world stage.”
“Europe … will be a key market for us in 2011,” he added.
The new deal builds on recent developments at Aesica such as the acquisition of R5 – a specialist in early-phase formulation development and manufacturing of new medicines and clinical trial materials – earlier this year.
Subject to antitrust clearance, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.
Phil Taylor
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