Spanish manufacturer Medichem has opened a new High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient unit (HPAI) in its Maltese plant at Ħal Far.

“Our expansion to HPAI will allow Medichem to offer a broader product portfolio to our customers. Today, 25 per cent of new drugs in development are highly potent, and we expect this tendency to keep growing,” explained Medichem CEO Ervin Veszprémi.

The HPAI modular laboratory is equipped for the synthesis of HPAIs from the very early R&D phases, through process development and to manufacturing. R&D work and production are expected to begin in the second half of 2014.

Global demand for HPAIs is growing due to the ability of this class of molecules to target diseases while being more effective at very low doses. They are usually used in therapies such as oncology and musculoskeletal treatments, among others.

Many generic companies are looking for partners who can provide a high quality and reliable supply of highly potent products. Moreover, the unique patent situation of Malta allows Medichem to develop and produce HPAI in advance of patent expiry.

Medichem has a sister company, Combino Pharm, which manufactures, develops and markets generic pharmaceutical products.