Hovione
HOVIONE
Sete Casas
2671-506 Loures - Portugal
Tél : +351 21 982 9000
Email : contact@hovione.com
Internet : www.hovione.com
HOVIONE
Sete Casas
2671-506 Loures - Portugal
Tél : +351 21 982 9000
Email : contact@hovione.com
Internet : www.hovione.com
Hovione today :
Portugal-based Hovione is a multinational company specializing in health sciences. It researches, develops, and produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), develops particle engineering, formulations, and medical devices for inhalation, and exports almost all of its production.
At the forefront of pharmaceutical chemistry internationally, Hovione was founded in 1959 by Ivan Villax, a chemistry researcher engaged in the development of tetracyclines and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.
Driven by chemists, engineers, and pharmacists who share a passion for science and innovation, Hovione is one of the largest investors in research and development (R&D) in the Portuguese pharmaceutical industry and the largest employer of PhDs in the country.
With a global presence and operations, it has research centers in Portugal and the United States, industrial-scale production facilities in Portugal, Ireland, and Macau, and offices in Hong Kong and Switzerland. Its products and procedures meet the highest compliance standards established by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the health authorities of the EU and Japan.
In 1992, the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme recognized Hovione’s commitment to environmental protection by awarding it the "European Award for the Best Environment in Industry" for the best industrial recycling program.
In 2009, Hovione received the COTEC – Unicer Award for Product Innovation for its project "Atomization Drying Particle Technology."
Owned by the Villax family for three generations, Hovione employs 2,400 people at its sites in Portugal, Macau, the United States, and Ireland. An estimated 80 million patients are treated each year with medicines containing an active ingredient manufactured by Hovione.
Hovione activities
Manufacture of pharmaceutical active ingredients (APIs)
Development of new chemical processes for manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients. Hovione also operates in the generics market, producing off-patent APIs for the generic drug industry.
Medicinal formulation and dosage forms
Hovione develops formulations for inhalation, including dry powder inhalers.
Particle engineering formulation
This activity includes technologies such as spray drying, controlled crystallization, microfluidization, etc.
1959
Hovione was established in Portugal in 1959 by Ivan Villax with his wife, Diane Villax, and two other Hungarian refugees: Nicholas de Horthy and Andrew Onody, the first two letters of the three founders’ names: HO, VI and ON were used to create the name Hovione.
Working initially out of the basement of the Villax family home in Lisbon, Ivan started to research semi-synthetic tetracyclines (antibiotics) and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.
60s & 70s
Building of the first industrial manufacturing plant in 1969 constructed in Loures, on the outskirts of Lisbon
Major commercial success came in the 60s and 70s with the sales of betamethasone and derivative products with Japan as the primary market. Keen to expand in Asia, Ivan Villax opened an office in Hong Kong in 1979.
80s
In 1982, the Loures plant was inspected and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hovione launched the semi-synthetic antibiotic, doxycycline, in the USA as the product came off patent. Using Hovione's doxycycline, independent laboratories have increased the total market four times since 1983. Today, Hovione's product still has a market share of 75%. In 1987, dexamethasone dipropionate, a Hovione patented development, was launched in Japan where it quickly became the best selling product in the topical anti-inflammatory therapeutic class. In 1986, a second manufacturing site was opened in Macau, China
90s
During the 90s, Hovione developed and began supplying contrast media agents. The factory in Portugal was expanded in 1997 with a brand new 200 m3 automated plant. Hovione was now ready to focus on meeting the outsourced manufacturing needs of the Pharma Industry.
2000s
In 2001, a third manufacturing site was opened in New Jersey, USA. This facility combined with Loures and Macau, enabled the company to offer an extensive range of capabilities to innovator drug companies. A growing reputation for outstanding quality led to Hovione becoming a leading provider of drug development services and clinical trial materials.
Extending the range of services offered, Hovione established and expanded its particle engineering services. Pioneering commercial spray drying, Hovione has become an industry leader in this area. The company’s ability to address drug delivery problems allowed it to build a unique expertise in inhalation products. Expanding further in Asia, Hovione acquired a Chinese partner, Hisyn, in 2008 and then established an R&D center in Shanghai. In 2009, a fourth facility in Cork, Ireland was added. Then in 2011, a sales office in Mumbai, India was opened giving the company a true global footprint.
2010s
In 2016, Hovione opened its office in Japan, reinforcing Hovione's global position.
In 2018, Hovione gave €2 million to Portugal’s newest university, NOVA School of Business Economics, ranked today 18th in Europe by the Financial Times.
In February 2020, Hovione started to produce bulk alcohol sanitizing gel, in massive quantities to fight SARS-CoV-2. With the help of Fire Brigades Hovione distributed throughout Portugal sanitizing gel to everyone, Hospitals, Police, Post Office, Local Authorities, all those needed to keep health care and government operational.