Page 144 - CW E-Magazine (28-1-2025)

Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals

CAPABILITY EXPANSION EXPANDED CAPABILITIES
Aragen secures $100-mn investment from Quadria Navin Molecular adding new fl ow synthesis

Capital and ozonolysis technologies

Aragen, the Hyderabad-based Con- Dr. Amit Varma, Managing Partner Navin Molecular, an Indian-head- to mimic conditions on the production meet their demanding timelines,” said
tract Research, Development and Manu- and co-Founder of Quadria Capital, quartered CDMO with world-class plant, and provide fl exible capacity to Mr. Jordi Robinson, Chief Commercial
facturing Organisation (CRDMO), said said, “The pharmaceutical outsourcing small molecule development and manu- manufacture non-GMP batches of mate- Offi cer at Navin Molecular. “This ex-
it has secured a $100-mn investment sector presents compelling growth facturing capabilities, has announced rial for pre-clinical toxicology studies. pansion will ensure that we can match
from Quadria Capital, an Asia health- opportunities, especially in the current a Rs. 10-crore (approximately US$1.2-mn) Alongside the increase in process deve- these expectations, as well as increas-
care-focused private equity fund. The environment which is driven by global investment to construct a new lopment capabilities, an additional ana- ing our technology offering through
investment will result in Quadria ac- supply chain reorganisation. Aragen’s 1,200-square-metre R&D facility at its lytical laboratory will be built, including fl ow chemistry and ozonolysis, ensur-
quiring a minority stake in Aragen, at impressive track record, customer-cen- site in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. The state-of-the art instrumentation to sup- ing that we can continue to provide the
an approximate valuation of $1.4-bn, tric approach, and commitment to inno- new facility will increase the capacity port method validation and technology highest quality, cost-effective manufac-
primarily through a fresh capital infu- vation make it an ideal partner for global for laboratory and kilo-scale process transfer of projects. The investment will turing solutions for our customers.
sion, with a small portion from the sale pharmaceutical companies. We look development, as well as enhancing analy- also see existing laboratories at Dewas
of shares by existing investors. Aragen Life Science. “Our expanded forward to partnering with them and tical development and testing capabili- being upgraded, and work began on the Navin Molecular was launched in
capabilities will allow us to support the supporting their next phase of growth”. ties to support the development and new facility in December 2024. It is ex- 2023, and is the CDMO division of
This funding will support Aragen’s rising demand for integrated discovery scale up of customer projects. pected that the project will be completed Navin Fluorine, focussed on supporting
expansion of its capabilities and in- and manufacturing services, and, most Quadria Capital has invested in several by May 2025, and the expansion will global pharmaceutical innovators. Its
frastructure, enabling the company to importantly, help our customers accele- healthcare companies, including The new building will have 48 fume create up to 65 new jobs, doubling the 47-acre state-of-the-art site in Dewas
meet the growing demand for outsourc- rate their programs to market faster and Akums Drugs, a domestic-focussed hoods for chemical process develop- size of the R&D team. offers process R&D through to com-
ing services from innovators in the US more effi ciently.” contract manufacturer; Encube Ethicals, ment, and will have specialised techno- mercial manufacturing of a wide-range
and Europe. “This investment marks specialising in topical formulations; logy installed to carry out fl ow reactions “Robust and thorough process of regulatory starting materials and API
a pivotal moment as we scale to meet With this investment, Quadria joins and Straits Orthopaedics, a Malaysia- and ozonolysis, as well as the capabili- development is crucial to ensure the intermediates. In July 2024, the com-
the needs of a rapidly evolving mar- Goldman Sachs as the second strategic based CDMO for orthopaedic medical ties to safely handle a wide range of hazar- chance of successful scale up, and cus- pany announced the building of a new
ket,” said Mr. Manni Kantipudi, CEO, investor in Aragen. devices. dous chemistries. A new kilo-scale lab tomers are looking for partners that are 9,000-square-metre GMP manufactur-
will also be commissioned, with cylin- fl exible and have the capacity to take on ing plant at Dewas, which is scheduled
FUND RAISING drical vessels up to 100 litres in volume, projects with the minimum of delay to to be completed by the end of 2025.
Rubicon to raise Rs. 500-crore via IPO for inorganic DECARBONISATION EFFORTS

growth Piramal Pharma converts coal-fi red steamer

Pharma fi rm, Rubicon Research, is cialisation and promotion of its branded Rubicon’s revenue from opera- to biomass briquettes
planning to raise Rs. 500-crore through speciality product pipeline in the CNS tions increased 172 percent from
initial public offering (IPO) to fund and CVS therapy areas in the US mar- Rs. 313-crore in FY22 to Rs. 854-crore Piramal Pharma Ltd. (PPL) has 17% of the company’s total emissions. Made from agricultural waste, they are
inorganic growth, other strategic initi- ket once Rubicon products received in FY24. achieved a notable environmental mile- “The transition to biomass briquettes a renewable fuel source that supports
atives and loan repayment. Rubicon USFDA approval. stone at its API and intermediates manu- at our Digwal facility is a testament to circular economy principles by re-
Research recently acquired the Pith- In terms of manufacturing capa facturing facility in Digwal, by convert- our commitment to reducing our envi- cycling organic by-products, reducing
ampur (Madhya Pradesh) facility of In FY’22, Rubicon acquired Meditab bilities, Rubicon operates two US ing its coal-fi red steam boiler to operate ronmental footprint while driving inno- waste, and promoting sustainability.
Alkem Laboratories for Rs. 149-crore, Specialities’ oral liquids manufacturing FDA-inspected facilities in Maharashtra on biomass briquettes, a renewable energy vation in sustainable manufacturing. As “This transformation at our Digwal faci-
on a slump sale basis. business that included a manufacturing with capabilities for oral solid doses, fuel source. This achievement marks a we align our goals with global climate lity underscores our commitment to
site at Satara, Maharashtra with fi lling oral liquid products, and nasal sprays substantial step toward Piramal’s sus- action frameworks, we will continue environmental stewardship and sustain-
The company, which recently fi led lines for oral liquid formulations and in the US. It has annual production tainability goal to reduce Scope 1 and to contribute to a more sustainable able operational practices,” said
papers with SEBI, has a track record a block for the production of nasal capacities of 5,625-million tablets, 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by future for generations to come,” said Mr. Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal
of inorganic acquisitions in FY’22 and inhalers. The facility was inspected by 3,459 kilolitres and 24.83-million 42% by 2030. The strategic conversion Ms. Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, PPL. Global Pharma. “By transitioning to
FY’24. the US FDA in January 2023 and is bottles/microvials. It has US FDA-ins- at the Digwal facility will eliminate biomass briquettes, we are signifi cant-
presently engaged in the manufacturing pected R&D facilities in India and approximately 24,000 tonnes of carbon The briquettes are compacted ly reducing our GHG emissions and
Last fi scal, Rubicon acquired Vali- of liquid formulation products for the Canada with recent inspections com- dioxide equivalent (tCO ) GHG emis- blocks of biomass materials processed setting new industry standards for responsible
2e
dus Pharmaceuticals LLC for commer- US market. pleted in 2023. sions annually, accounting for about and compressed under high pressure. pharmaceutical manufacturing.”

144 Chemical Weekly January 28, 2025 Chemical Weekly January 28, 2025 145

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