Novasep invests €6 million to further expand API production capacity on its Chasse-sur-Rhône site

Lyon, France, December 9th, 2021 – Novasep, a leading supplier of services and technologies for the life sciences industry, is pleased to announce a €6 million investment on its Chasse-sur-Rhône site, France (38). 

Continuous, or flow chemistry, is becoming increasingly important in API manufacturing, offering a number of advantages over traditional batch chemistry such as improved productivity, reduced energy and solvent consumption, better reaction control, increased process safety and reduced exposure for personnel.

Flow chemistry is one of Novasep's main current areas of innovation, with the establishment of a research platform in flow chemistry at its Chasse-sur-Rhône site back in 2013 to develop methodologies for efficient process development under continuous flow conditions, using both internal chemical and engineering expertise. This latest investment strengthens these capacities with the installation of a cGMP flow reactor to support the needs of pharmaceutical innovators for clinical supply and launch.

In parallel, Novasep continues to reinforce its capabilities on the site for low to medium volume APIs, in response to increased customer demand, [through the debottlenecking of drying and purification capacities, and the addition of a new clean room]. These investments will enable Novasep to accommodate customers’ growing needs for outsourced API manufacturing services, increasing flexibility, reinforcing state-of-the art technologies, and strengthening its competitiveness.

This investment project has been selected and supported by the French government as part of the ‘France Relance’ recovery plan. The program rewards innovative and promising industrial investments in France, with the aim of reinforcing production capabilities of APIs for essential therapies, increasing economic growth and boosting employment.
« The addition of a cGMP flow capability at manufacturing scale, a technology which Novasep has been working on for several years in R&D, is an important step forward to strengthen our competitiveness in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients market. We are proud of this investment which will increase employment opportunities in France whilst improving responsiveness and reinforcing manufacturing capacities for essential therapeutic drugs for our customers, and ultimately for patients ", declares Catherine Vindevoghel, site Director of Chasse-sur-Rhône.

“This investment echoes Novasep's adherence to the "Manifeste des entreprises françaises de la synthèse pharmaceutique" signed in June 2020, in favor of relocating the production of APIs and intermediates in France.  It is part of a global investment strategy that demonstrates our desire to innovate and underlines Novasep’s position as a leading company in the field of API manufacturing for pharmaceutical innovators” adds Michel Spagnol, Chairman & CEO.