Idifarma’s facility in Pamplona, Spain. (Credit: Idifarma)
A Spanish contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) has grown by more than 50 percent in the last two years as it continues to expand its international customer base and strengthen its specialist production capabilities.
Idifarma’s revenue is estimated to reach around Euro 5.3 million ($5.85 million) in 2016, growing from Euro 3.5 million ($3.87 million) in 2014. To meet increased demand for its clinical and commercial capabilities, the team is expected to reach 100 employees in 2016, growing by a third from 75 in 2014.
Luis Oquiñena, general manager and co-founder of Idifarma, said: “Idifarma’s foundations have been built on strong development expertise and contract development projects continue to form around 50 percent of our business. In recent years, we are supporting more and more clients with the development of highly potent drugs and other challenging products such as niche generics and innovative drugs.
“Our contract manufacturing services represent the biggest growth area of the business. Idifarma’s focus on low-volume, niche pharmaceutical products is meeting a largely unmet need in the industry at a global level.
“As a result, we are planning to make further investments into our manufacturing capabilities in the coming months and into 2017,” added Luis.
Over 50 percent of Pamplona-based Idifarma’s business now comes from outside of Spain, with strong markets including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Poland and increasingly outside of Europe.
The CDMO is currently investing in additional analytical equipment including ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technology, increasing its chromatography capacity by over 50 percent in the last two years.
Idifarma, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, specializes in assisting drug developers with complex formulation and development projects, with particular expertise in overcoming low solubility challenges thanks to its investment in spray drying technologies. The CDMO also has strong solid dosage form manufacturing capabilities for low-volume products, with a focus on tablet and capsule production and expertise in handling high potency products.
