Evonik recently expanded its technical service laboratory for pharmaceutical polymers in Shanghai from 130 to 750 square meters in response to the dynamic growth of the Chinese pharmaceutical market. "The expansion was based on our excellent reputation in the region as a provider of controlled drug release solutions and the strategic decision to add to our research and development activities in Asia," said Axel Bergt, Vice President Health Care Asia Pacific of Evonik, during the opening ceremony.
Lab expansion
The expanded laboratory serves both as a technical service laboratory and as center of excellence for contract development of oral drug delivery systems. The free services offered to customers who use EUDRAGIT® products include training, for example on the handling of pharmaceutical polymers. With the help of Evonik experts, customers can also simulate the actual manufacturing process in the service laboratory and see how coating, tableting or granulation works.
Furthermore Evonik also offers paid formulation services for pharmaceutical companies, in which scientists develop drug delivery systems on the basis of an active substance and a specified release profile. On request, they can also supply all data required for product approval and provide support with the approval process.
Laboratory head Henry Han used the opportunity of the expansion to further improve the technical equipment of the laboratory, both for analytical services and drug product manufacturing. "We are now able to simulate the first scale-up step in our laboratory,” explains Han. “This simplifies the subsequent transfer of the production process to the customer."
Representatives of around thirty pharmaceutical companies in China were present at the opening ceremony to find out more about the new services available at Xinzhuang Industry Park.
Company information
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.
Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around €12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.0 billion.