Sigma-Aldrich expands cGMP capacity with acquistion
Sigma-Aldrich has acquired Honeywell International's Iropharm facility in Arklow, Ireland. An FDA inspected cGMP manufacturing site equipped with 90,000 litres of reactor capacity and one of the few commercial scale simulated moving bed (SMB) multi-column chromatographic separation units in the world, the facility is used to resolve chiral compounds from racemic mixtures into pure enantiomers.
Sigma-Aldrich has acquired Honeywell International's Iropharm facility in Arklow, Ireland. An FDA inspected cGMP manufacturing site equipped with 90,000 litres of reactor capacity and one of the few commercial scale simulated moving bed (SMB) multi-column chromatographic separation units in the world, the facility is used to resolve chiral compounds from racemic mixtures into pure enantiomers.
Iropharm was the last remaining part of Honeywell's Pharmaceutical business, which the company largely divested in 2002. Sigma expects the acquisition to "substantially increase" its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and pharmaceutical intermediates manufacturing capacities, enabling it "to better support drug development from early-stage through commercialisation", although for 2006 it is forecasting only a "neutral to mildly accretive" boost to earnings as a result of the acquisition.
Honeywell's Specialty Chemicals business continues to manufacture and supply high purity solvents and reagents under the Burdick & Jackson name, as well as inhalants, sterilants and intermediates, for the pharmaceutical, life sciences and biotechnology industries.
"The acquisition of Iropharm fulfills our promise to add commercial-scale cGMP manufacturing capacity and continues our strategy of providing customers with state-of-the-art technologies to meet their custom API and intermediate needs," said Frank Wicks, president of Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC). "Because over 80% of newly developed drugs are chiral drugs and Iropharm is a leading player in the global field of SMB custom manufacturing, this addition puts SAFC in an even stronger position to serve the pharmaceutical industry."
"This will be a good fit for both organisations," said James Ennis, Iropharm plant manager. "Iropharm has significant pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing experience and will help secure SAFC's position as a serious contender in the commercial-scale custom cGMP synthesis market."
All of Iropharm's existing management team will retain their positions. Terms of the transaction, which is to be made in cash, have not been disclosed.