Hovione and Ligand Partner to Increase Production of Captisol for Use in Remdesivir

Hovione, a contract development and manufacturing organization, announced on Sept. 23, 2020 that it has signed a partnership agreement with Ligand, a biopharmaceutical company located in San Diego, CA, to increase the production output of Ligand’s Captisol, a chemically modified cyclodextrin used to improve the solubility and stability of drugs, for the formulation of Gilead’s COVID-19 treatment Veklury (remdesivir).

“To meet Captisol demand associated with Veklury, Hovione will soon be producing per month the quantity it usually produces in one year, said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, chief operating officer, Hovione, in a company press release. “This sudden spike in demand has required unique mobilization efforts across the Hovione network to secure additional raw material supply, execute major capital expenditure projects at our sites, maximize operational efficiency, hire additional talent, and identify external partners to expand our overall capacity. The pharmaceutical supply chain is working together in an unprecedented fashion to treat patients and save lives. Hovione is privileged to be part of this truly global response.”

“Ligand values its longstanding partnership with Hovione,” said Matt Foehr, president and chief operating officer of Ligand, in the press release. “Their excellent customer service, global commitment to quality, and high pharmaceutical standards make them an ideal partner for Captisol, a critical component for a number of life-saving medicines. We commend them for responsibly and efficiently partnering with Ligand to manage the scale up and expansion of their operations to contribute to global health during the pandemic.”