Acino plant opens to serve Bayer contraceptive patch needs
pharmafile | August 14, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Acino, Bayer, R&D, Swiss, contraceptive
Acino has officially opened its new manufacturing facility for transdermal patch products in Miesbach, Germany, which it says makes it the second-largest producer of patch products in Europe.
The new plant, constructed with an estimated budget of €20 million, is due to come online before the end of the year and has the capacity to triple the plant’s from 37 million patches a year at present, with scope to expand even further in future.
The plant will incorporate “state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, laboratories and modern storage space”, according to the company, which notes it also has significant capacity in oral dispersible and implantable products.
Around 40 jobs have been created by the project, with the decision to press ahead with the plant’s construction consolidated by the signing of a multiyear manufacturing contract with German pharmaceutical and chemical major Bayer.
Bayer and Acino agreed the manufacturing deal in June 2011, with the contract manufacturer supporting the late-stage development and commercial launch of a contraceptive patch which is currently in Phase III testing.
The patch which Acino will produce contains a combination of ethinyl estradiol and gestodene and will be the smallest, lowest dosed and the only transparent patch for female contraception on the market, according to the two partners.
“Our operations here in Miesbach are thriving,” said Acino’s chief executive Peter Burema.
“We continue to invest in technological innovation and steadily grow the site in view of promising pipeline projects and thanks to the fruitful cooperation we enjoy with customers and authorities,” he added.
Acino has been on a major growth trajectory of late, with the acquisition of businesses from Mepha/Cephalon – including production and R&D units Switzerland – leading to a doubling of sales in the first half of this year to €23.4 million.
The company is expecting 2012 sales to come in at around €260 million – at the top end of its forecasts – with 2013 sales expected to continue growing ‘at a strong rate’.
Phil Taylor
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