UK Pharma Majors Form Consortium

Published: 16-Nov-2009

To improve continuous processing and pharma manufacturing efficiency in the UK

GlaxoSmithKline and GEA have formed a consortium to improve continuous processing and pharma manufacturing efficiency in the UK. The step was taken in response to the competition from emerging markets.

The consortium is aiming to manufacture pharmaceuticals at a reduced rate of 70% of the capital cost of conventional technology. The Technology Strategy Board awarded a fund of £24m for high value manufacturing projects.

The increase of pharma manufacturing capacity in emerging markets, such as India and China, poses a threat to production in established regions and the consortium has been set up to counter this, reported in-pharma.

Adrian Howson, head of pharmaceutical process at Sagentia, and a member of the consortium, said: “Traditional tablet manufacturing process has evolved into one that is easy to regulate but very manual and therefore expensive to operate in western economies.”

Iain Gray, CEO of Technology Strategy Board, said: “Improving pharmaceutical production precision, productivity and mass yield is intended to ensure the UK remains competitive 'against a backdrop where manufacturing often gravitates to countries with lower overall costs.

“Important to ensure that companies continue to innovate during the downturn to ensure a successful recovery for the UK economy.”

Apart from GlaxoSmithKline, and GEA Pharma Systems, the other companies in the consortium are Siemens Industrial Automation and Drives Technology, University of Warwick, Newcastle University and Sagentia.

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