RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
Project Coordinator
Ghent University
Ghent University is Top-ranking university in Belgium, housing core labs and offices of CESPE.
CESPE is a multidisciplinary innovation hub, uniting over 20 academic research groups and more than 15 industry partners to advance sustainable and future-oriented pharmaceutical manufacturing.
CESPE acts as PHARMECO Coordinator and will also lead activities focused on sustainable design and evaluation framework for pharmaceuticals.
Additionally, CESPE will actively contribute to other PHARMECO activities, such as non-precious metal catalysis, PAT, process modeling and optimization.
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Main Contact Point:Sarah Costers, Project CoordinatorMain contact point for PHARMECO |
Further information on https://www.ugent.be https:/cespe.be/
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RISE
RISE is an independent, state-owned research institute in Sweden that actively participates in many EU framework programs, including IMI/IHI projects. It offers unique expertise and over 130 testbeds and demonstration environments for future technologies, products, and services.
RISE’s strategic initiatives 2022–2026 focus on benefits for business and the public sector related to five societal challenges.
- Climate and the environment,
- Health and welfare,
- Digitalisation,
- Skills supply and working life,
- A strong, democratic society.
Within PHARMECO, RISE will apply its expertise in route design, in (bio)pharmaceutical manufacture based on RISE’s GMP-certified production facility and technical pilot plant facilities and in testing and evaluation of cleaning, disinfectant and sterilization process efficiency and compatibility with materials as well as risk of AMR induction and medical device biocompatibility after sterilization (GLP).
Furthermore, RISE will use its longstanding expertise and MMBio and OligoMed network and in-house infrastructure to greenify TIDE production and will build on the strong in-house SSbD and LCA knowledge and network.
RISE will co-lead as well the PHARMECO result dissemination, communication and networking activities.
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Main Contact Point:Nicolaas Schipper Head of manufacture |
Further information on https://www.ri.se/en
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Radboud University
Radboud University is one of the best traditional, general universities of the Netherlands. Radboud University has strong expertise in model development for risk assessment, LCA, biodiversity assessment and SSbD.
SRU will be involved in WP7 of PHARMECO for: (1) environmental sustainability assessment of pharmaceuticals for route design, (2) prospective assessments of environmental sustainability of innovative synthesis and production technologies, (3) tailoring the generic SSbD framework for chemicals and materials as proposed by the EC JRC to the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical sector and (4) perform research to include the impact of fate and exposure of API/intermediates in sustainability assessments.
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Main Contact Point:Prof. Ad M. J. Ragas Head of the Environmental Science Cluster |
Further information on https://www.ru.nl/en
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CPI
CPI is a technology innovation catalyst,
Established in 2004, CPI accelerates the development, scale-up and commercialisation of deep tech and sustainable manufacturing solutions. As a trusted partner of industry, academia, government, and the investment community, CPI is the catalyst that delivers sustainability and healthcare innovations to benefit people, places, and our planet.
Within PHARMECO, CPI will apply its expertise in pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing,
and use its National Biologics Manufacturing Centre
state-of the-art biomanufacturing facilities for the characterization, manufacturing process development, scale up and supply of biological therapeutic products.
Also, CPI’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence will provide state-of-the-art facilities and leading UK expertise in oligonucleotide synthesis.
CPI will also provide transformative, digital-enabled solutions in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
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Main Contact Point:Simon Hawdon Chief Technologist |
Further information on https://www.uk-cpi.com/
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UNIVERSITAET GRAZ
The University of Graz (UGRAZ) is a public research university located in Graz, Austria. It is the largest and oldest university in Styria and ranks as the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria.
UGRAZ comprises six faculties and numerous departments.
The Institute of Chemistry stands out for its wide-ranging research and teaching across various chemical disciplines. It provides a dynamic and inspiring environment where students and researchers work together to develop innovative solutions to current and future challenges.
The Institute of Chemistry at UGRAZ has extensive expertise and cutting-edge facilities in sustainable synthesis processes, continuous flow chemistry, biocatalysis, and in utilization of emerging carbonaceous feedstock materials.
Therefore, within PHARMECO, UGRAZ will play a key role for sustainable API and intermediate production using renewable resources, non-precious metal catalysis, and biocatalytic methods, using its flow chemistry equipment, along with microwave reactors and high-pressure/high-temperature reactors for catalytic investigations.
UGRAZ will also facilitate sustainability assessment and steering.
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Main Contact Point:Prof. Dr. C. Oliver Kappe, |
Further information on https://chemie.uni-graz.at/en/about-the-institute/
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TU Berlin
Technical University of Berlin´s Sustainable Engineering Chair is a leading group in the development of life cycle-based sustainability assessment approaches (carbon/water footprints, LCA, resource efficiency & criticality, social LCA, LCSA).
TUB will lead the harmonization of sustainability assessment task (WP8), as it has a proven track record in these areas.
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Main Contact Point:Hannah Welsh Chair of Sustainable Engineering |
Further information on https://www.tu.berlin/en/
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RIVM
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is an official knowledge institute of the Dutch government. RIVM stands for a healthy population in a sustainable, safe and healthy environment for current and future generations. RIVM pursues those goals based on independent scientific research. The institute collaborates with regulatory bodies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA), national drug regulatory authorities, and other international organisations to ensure public health and environmental safety.
RIVM will apply its knowledge acquired during TRANSPHARM and PREMIER to galvanize regulatory preparedness and acceptance towards greener pharmaceuticals, by raising awareness and developing evidence, and policy briefing documents.
Medicines’ policy team, Medicines department, Centre for Health Protection. Email: pharmeco@rivm.nl
Further information on https://www.rivm.nl/en
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RCPE
The Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) is a global leader in pharmaceutical process engineering.
Founded in 2008, RCPE is an independent research center located in Austria.
As a non-profit, private company owned by Graz University of Technology, the University of Graz, and Joanneum Research GmbH, RCPE combines outstanding science, business, and industry in an application-oriented approach.
Within PHARMECO, RCPE’s research focus is the design of pharmaceutical products and the associated manufacturing processes based on diverse scientific and mechanistic principles.
RCPE will apply its expertise to implement process-intensified and scalable methodologies for API production, using its in-house state-of-the-art flow synthesis facilities and dedicated flow chemistry equipment, its broad range of extruder lines (lab-scale to industrial scale), its inline and online equipment for PAT strategy etc.
Further, RCPE will be developing process control strategies & in-silico simulation approaches and building on its GMP-like pilot plant infrastructure.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Sándor B. Ötvös Principal Scientist |
Further information on https://www.rcpe.at/en/en_home/
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AIMPLAS
AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is a non-profit research organization based in Spain. It specializes in R&D, innovation, and technical services for companies in the plastics sector. AIMPLAS supports sustainable development through advanced materials, circular economy, and eco-design solutions. It collaborates with industries to improve product performance, quality, and environmental impact.
A Technological Center with more than 35 years of experience in the plastics industry, providing solutions to companies across the entire value chain, from raw material manufacturers to transformers and end-users.
AIM will bring its expertise in innovative polymers & renewables for single-use equipment, and its expertise in water treatment including solvent recycling, photocatalysis and membranes for separation tech.
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Main Contact Point:Marta Estellés Luna Project Manager |
Further information on https://www.aimplas.net/
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Loughborough University
LU stands at the forefront of research-led institutions in the UK. Boasting world-class laboratories and innovation hubs, it consistently ranks among the nation’s elite and receives an array of awards that underscore its exceptional achievements in teaching, research, and enterprise.
LU will bring essential expertise in retrosynthesis and a set of validated retrosynthesis tools (e.g. SYNTHIA™ and open-source counterparts), as well as expertise in AI, digitalization, perspective life cycle assessment, and holistic decision-making methodologies, and. LU has access to a flow chemistry autonomous platform to allow a more effective exploration of the design space and validation of the in-silico retrosynthesis outcomes.
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Main Contact Point:Prof. Brahim Benyahia Professor of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing |
Further information on https://www.lboro.ac.uk/
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SMEs
Microinnova
Microinnova – develops chemical processes and plant systems. Specializing in modular continuous plants, they scale processes from lab tests to tons-per-hour production, enabling rapid time-to-market and flexibility. The combination of process development at plant level and engineering knowledge, and its well-equipped flow chemistry pilots infrastructure makes MI unique for the project.
MI will be involved in WP6 to develop and scale continuous processes using flow chemistry technology, turnkey supply of continuous pilot and small-scale production and participate in modular plant and bespoke plant engineering.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Dirk Kirschneck Strategic Director |
Further information on https://microinnova.com/
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Benkei
Benkei is a French SME that assists clients in defining, financing, and implementing their R&I projects and innovation strategy.
Benkei has extensive experience in implementing collaborative projects, providing methods, tools, and expertise to maximize the anticipated impacts.
Within PHARMECO, Benkei participates in management activities to provide administrative support for project operations and engages in the management of communication, dissemination, and networking activities.
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Main Contact Point:Fabienne Brutin Projects Director |
Further information on https://www.benkei.eu/
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VTU engeneering
The VTU Group companies plan and implement solutions for the process industry, especially for the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemicals, metallurgy and oil & gas sectors. VTU has a clear focus on sustainability and digitalization.
VTU will apply its expertise in data science, automation, and process engineering to enhance energy efficiency, and optimize production processes within the pharmaceutical industry to implement technologies on plant level to save water and energy during decontamination processes in WP5. In WP4, their role is to provide support in the modelling activities on process level (simulations and predictive process modelling was well as advanced control).
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Main Contact Point:Mark Senten Managing Director |
Further information on https://www.vtu.com/en/
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SFE Process
SFE Process is a French company, expert in supercritical fluid and manufacture system to manage sustainable processes as extraction, cleaning, decontamination, sterilization, purification. SFE is composed by a team of experienced engineers and high skilled technicians
The SFE laboratory is equipped of different size of systems allowing management of some sterilization tests at different conditions of pressure, temperature, and cosolvent to optimize sterilization efficiency and energy control (WP5). They will manufacture a pilot (WP6).
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Main Contact Point:Jérémy Lagrue CEO |
Further information on https://sfe-process.com/
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BioToolomics
BIOT – BioToolomics – develops and manufactures innovative process chromatography resins and disposable process chromatography columns for cost-effective purification of antibody therapeutics, viruses, enzymes, and oligos etc.
BIOT will contribute to WP4 with their innovative chromatography resins for low energy/solvent use, using their agarose bead formulation platform, and chemical reactors to make the resins.
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Main Contact Point:Chad Zhang Managing Director |
Further information on https://www.biotoolomics.com/
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Cultzyme
Cultzyme turns every bioprocess into a self-driving data engine streaming 10× more live datapoints and letting cloud-based AI agents model and optimise each parameter in real time, cutting OPEX and automating the whole workflow to get bioproducts to market faster.
CTZ will deploy its autonomous bioprocessing platform to compress previous development timelines and PMI with the goal of establishing a new sustainability benchmark at PHARMECO.
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Main Contact Point:Juan Garzón CEO |
Further information on https://cultzyme.com/
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LifeClean
LifeClean – is a Swedish company providing a patented high-level disinfection chemistry formore sustainable cleaning, surface disinfection and sanitation solutions.
LC will provide disinfectant based on stabilised ClO2 to be evaluated for efficiencies and safety (WP5).
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Main Contact Point:Sebastian Carlstrom Product Manager |
Further information on https://lifeclean.se/
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Private Partners
Sanofi
Sanofi is an Innovative global healthcare company represented in PHARMECO through German, French and US subsidiaries.
Sanofi has strong expertise in R&D, development, manufacturing and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and vaccines. Sustainability and planet care is one of Sanofi’s strategic goals.
Sanofi acts as PHARMECO Industry Leader and will co-lead on the activities dedicated to Pilot manufacturing, process design, Pilot platform, sustainability assessment and steering, as well as standardization and harmonization of sustainability assessment systems.
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Main Contact Point:Christian Schönau Project Industry Leader |
Further information on https://www.sanofi.com/en
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Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. More than 54,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow.
Boehringer Ingelheim commitment to sustainability to the entire value chain is reflected in participating in all work packages.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Fabian Stiefel, Sustainability for R&D, Development Sciences and Management |
Learn more at https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/
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Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Novo Nordisk focuses on enhancing sustainability in manufacturing by adopting innovative technologies that reduce emissions and optimize resource use. The organization aims to implement tools that promote eco-friendly production throughout the pharmaceutical lifecycle. Additionally, it emphasizes social responsibility by fostering sustainable industry practices, educating stakeholders, and ensuring transparency in sustainability assessments, addressing environmental concerns while highlighting health gains.
Novo Nordisk contributes to the PHARMECO project through various work packages including:
- Selection of sustainable processes and performing unit operations for scale-up, contributing to improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
- Leading the development and execution of the Data Management Plan, which involves collaborating with project partners to ensure effective data handling, interoperability, and alignment with the consortium’s intellectual property requirements.
- Participation in pilot lines to test and evaluate sustainable technologies at a larger scale.
- Providing insights from internal manufacturing processes to enhance manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
- Co-leading WP9 Dissemination, exploitation, communication and networking activities.
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Main Contact Point:Dr Matthias Müllenborn Senior Director |
Further information on https://www.novonordisk.com/
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Swiftpharma
SWPH – Swiftpharma – is a Belgium-based privately held biotechnology company dedicated to developing next generation, animal-free, and affordable recombinant proteins by transforming plants into mini bioreactors. The company is on a mission to bring a paradigm shift to multiple industries by serving as a bridge between high unmet industry needs and the significant advances being made in sustainable biomanufacturing.
SWPH will use its tobacco plant production infrastructure for the pilot scale manufacturing of model proteins in WP3 and for large scale production in WP6.
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Main Contact Point:Jeroen Hofenk CEO |
Further information on https://www.swiftpharma.eu/
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AbbVie
AbbVie is an international, research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Its mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that address complex health issues and enhance people’s lives.
AbbVie, as the co-lead for WP3, ensures that the most relevant future technologies for the sustainable manufacture of APIs in the pharmaceutical industry are identified and aligned between academic and industry partners. AbbVie is also a member of the American Chemical Society Pharma Roundtable and will ensure that there is no duplication of efforts for shared technology interests between these consortia. Besides the co-lead role in WP3, AbbVie will actively contribute to WP6, WP7, and WP8 by providing industry support.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Wilfried Braje Research Fellow |
Further information on https://www.abbvie.com/
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Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. is part of Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson is one of the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare companies. At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at https://www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com.
J&J – Janssen Pharmaceutica NV will be industry co-lead of WP7 supported by Sanofi and will be supporting Sanofi in its industry co-lead role for WP8. As WPs are strongly interconnected, a leadership team overseeing WP7 and WP8 will be beneficial in leveraging synergies and ensuring alignment with industry partners.
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Main Contact Point:Bert Verstappen Manager Environmental Sustainability Belgium |
Further information on https://www.jnj.com/ and on our LinkedIn Page
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Servier
Servier is an international pharmaceutical group governed by a Foundation, aiming for significant and sustainable societal impact. Global leader in cardiometabolic and venous diseases, Servier also aspires to become a major player in rare cancers, dedicating nearly 70% of its R&D budget to this field and is expanding into neurology, targeting neurodegenerative diseases with precise therapeutic responses.
Servier designs and manufactures most of its products in-house and conducts an Eco-Design program aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its operations while consistently maintaining efficacy and therapeutic safety standards. By 2030, 100% of our brand-name medicines will integrate an ecodesign approach.
Servier will contribute by providing specialized knowledge and expertise in the key areas of each Work Package (guidance on priorities in (bio-)chemical process development, safety and sustainability evaluations, regulatory guidance…).
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Sébastien Coufourier Senior Chemical Scientist, Servier representative. |
Further information on https://servier.com/
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Pfizer
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.
Pfizer will be co-leading WP2 and involved in WPs 1 – 9. Pfizer contributors have extensive experience in chemical synthesis processes, manufacturing, metrics and LCA assessment areas, which they will bring to their specific WPs assignments.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Bernard Lynch Sr Director & Pfizer lead to PharmEco |
Further information on https://www.pfizer.com/
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GSK
GSK – GlaxoSmithKline – is a global biopharma company prioritizing research into new vaccines and specialty medicines with a focus on the science of the immune system and advanced technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas – respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV and infectious diseases.
GSK will -as member of SMI PEG LCA- streamline efforts of PHARMECO with this initiative.
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Main Contact Point:Richard Henderson, Director Sustainability Reporting and Assurance |
Further information on https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/
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ASTRAZENECA
ASTRAZENECA is a leading pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organisation.
Within PHARMECO, ASTRAZENECA will provide support in all activities leveraging their experience in technical challenges associated with scale-up of manufacture and understanding or regulatory requirements needed for successful incorporation of new and sustainable processes into a commercial manufacture.
Further, AZ is an active member of ACS GCI Pharma Roundtable and SMI, 2 important target groups for the adoption of PHARMECO results.
In PHARMECO, AstraZeneca is represented by ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (based in US).
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Main Contact Point:Peter SchellSenior Director, Business Development PT&D |
Further information on https://www.astrazeneca.com/
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Sofradim
SOF – Sofradim – is a French company affiliated to Medtronic a world-leading Medtech Company, with headquarters in Ireland. It designs develops and manufactures implants based on biopolymers, resorbable polyesters and/or textiles for hemostats & soft tissue repair devices.
SOF will apply its expertise and its supercritical CO2 reactors and mesh cleaning infrastructure.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Yves Bayon Chief Scientist / Distinguished Scientist |
Further information on https://europe.medtronic.com/xd-en/index.html
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UCB
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on creating valuable solutions that improve the lives of people living with neurological and autoimmune conditions.
They are dedicated to improving the environmental performances of their medicines across their lifecycle, by leveraging their ecodesigning and continuous improvement framework.
Their approach includes the ambition to systematically minimize the environmental impact of API manufacturing processes for both biologics and synthetic molecules.
UCB will be involved in WPs 2 to 9 and bring expertise on environmental performances of manufacturing processes & expertise on lifecycle assessment, to cocreate scalable improvements with PHARMECO partners.
UCB is part of ACS GCI PR and BioPhorum, which will facilitate outreach to these PHARMECO target groups.
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Main Contact Point:Dr. Talia Flanagan, Head of Pharmaceutical Development Sciences |
Further information on https://www.ucb.com/
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Merck
Merck is a leading science and technology company, that operates across life science, healthcare and electronics.
Within PHARMECO, Merck is co-leading the biomanufacturing activities, and contributing expertise to all other activities.
Merck will notably play an active role in linking PHARMECO with relevant initiatives like NIIMBL, ACS GCIPR etc. to optimally align activities.
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Main Contact Point:Steve Marquis Fernandes Global CMC Development,Sustainability, Science & Digital Innovation Lead |
Further information on https://www.merckgroup.com/en
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