UCB sells Indian production plant to Exemed
pharmafile | November 27, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | API, Exemed, UCB, vapi
UCB Pharma has signed a deal to sell its manufacturing facility in Vapi, India, to local firm Exemed Pharmaceuticals.
The Vapi plant in Gujarat produces, packages and distributes of some of UCB’s mature product lines – mainly for the domestic Indian market – and the accounts for around 2% of the group’s total medicines output.
Exemed is a fast-growing company that has built its business on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical intermediates – particularly the diabetes treatment metformin – and the UCB deal marks its first major foray into finished dosage form production.
The Indian firm will take over production of the UCB products under the terms of a multi-year agreement, and also try to bring new in new customers for the facility. Around 80 staff currently employed at Vapi will transfer to the new owner.
“The agreement is in line with UCB’s strategy to focus on bringing new innovative drugs to patients and less on mass manufacturing for which UCB increasingly relies on a network of trusted partners,” said the Belgian company in a statement.
UCB has been reconfiguring its manufacturing network of late, selling off three production facilities in Germany and Italy to UK-based contract manufacturer Aesica last year and has started construction of a microbial fermentation facility in Bulle, Switzerland, that is due to come online in 2015.
The company recently opened a €65 million pilot biotech plant at its main manufacturing site in Braine-L’Alleud, Belgium.
Financial deals of the Exemed deal have not been disclosed, but UCB said the transaction would not have any impact on its financial guidance for 2012.
Meanwhile, UCB has signed a deal with Dubai-based Newbridge Pharmaceuticals for the distribution and sale of the Belgian firm’s flagship Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) arthritis drug, as well as Vimpat (lacosamide) for epilepsy and Neupro (rotigotine) for Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome in the Middle East and Africa.
Phil Taylor
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