A changing landscape
This year also saw some merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, primarily bolt-on acquisitions by select providers, some acquisitions
by private-equity investors, reorganizations by other companies, and the emergence of new names in contract biopharmaceutical
manufacturing.
Evonik Industries reorganized by combining its business in custom manufacturing of APIs (exclusive synthesis), pharmaceutical
amino acids (the Rexim product line), and pharmaceutical polymers in a new healthcare business line, effective Sept. 1, 2011.
The newly formed business line is part of the Health and Nutrition Business Unit. Earlier this year, Evonik increased its
capacity by 50% to make pharmaceutical-grade glycine at its plant in Nanning, China.
Earlier this year, Johnson Matthey completed the integration of the biocatalyst offerings from X-Zyme, which the company acquired
in July 2010. Johnson Matthey expanded the biocatalyst offerings into product and service offerings into its catalysis and
chiral technologies business. The portfolio from X-Zyme includes enzymatic catalysts for scalable production of highly pure
chiral amines and alcohols. The biocatalysts and related technology complement the chemocatalytic technology and related expertise
of Johnson Matthey.
Granules India, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, and Ajinomoto OmniChem, a producer of fine chemicals, formed a joint-venture,
Granules–OmniChem, to provide APIs and intermediates. Granules OmniChem is constructing a new facility in Vishakhapatnam (Vizag),
Andhra Pradesh, India. The construction of the facility was scheduled to begin by November 2011 and is expected to be completed
by late 2012 with production beginning by January 2013. The company will initially focus on high-value, low-volume APIs and
intermediates for existing customers and will custom manufacture new chemical entities in the future.
CABB, a fine- and specialty-chemicals company, acquired the fine-chemicals company KemFine Group Oy through its Swiss subsidiary,
for an undisclosed sum. In October 2011, Barclays Private Equity agreed to acquire CU Chemie Uetikon, a fine-chemical producer
based in Lahr, Germany.
Carbogen Amcis restructured its Swiss operations in Bubendorf, Aarau, and Hunzenschwil. Under the restructuring plan, the
Aarau site will focus more strongly on development and the Hunzenschwil site on the pilot production of early-phase projects.
Large-volume production and the manufacturing of highly active agents will continue at the Bubendorf site. The company planned
to reduce headcount by 60 employees.
On the biopharmaceutical front, earlier this year, Genzyme completed the sale of its pharmaceutical intermediates business
to International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG). ICIG purchased substantially all of the pharmaceutical intermediates business,
excluding the drug-delivery technologies portion. The acquired business was renamed Corden Pharma Switzerland and operates
as part of ICIG's pharmaceutical business within the Corden Pharma group platform of companies. In September 2011, ICIG also
acquired the former Boulder, Colorado, operations of Roche, which manufactures APIs, peptides, and small molecules. The operations
are now named Corden Pharma Colorado.
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, the former Merck Biomanufacturing Network, began operations under its new name following
the completion of the acquisition of the Merck Biomanufacturing Network by Fujifilm in April 2011. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies
provides contract biologics development and manufacturing services. The acquisition included facilities in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina, and Billingham, UK, manufacturing contracts, business-support operations, and a workforce.
In June 2011, Fujifilm and Mitsubishi formed a partnership for contract manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals. Under the partnership,
the companies signed an agreement to transfer the ownership of 20% equity interests in Fujifilm's wholly owned biopharmaceutical
contract manufacturing subsidiaries, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A. and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK to
Mitsubishi.
Also, in 2011, Johnson & Johnson acquired the biopharmaceutical and biomanufacturing firm, Crucell. Following the acquisition,
Crucell operates as the center for vaccines within the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuticals group.
Patricia Van Arnum is a senior editor at Pharmaceutical Technology, 485 Route One South, Bldg F, First Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830 tel. 732.346.3072, pvanarnum@advanstar.com
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