Minakem Group has completed the acquisition of AstraZeneca’s APIs plant in Dunkirk, France and has signed a long-term supply contract for Budesonide, Omeprazole and Esomeprazole.

Dunkirk’s three sites can produce multiple API’s simultaneously, with one unit dedicated to the production of corticosteroids. This acquisition adds to Minakem’s manufacturing capabilities, including injectable grades, and micronization services, and raises its custom synthesis capacity to about 450 m3 of batch reactors. These resources allow Minakem to provide process and synthesis development, clinical production, short campaigns for niche API’s as well as high volume API’s.

The three FDA-inspected factories at the plant include: Leuna for hazardous chemistry, large volume intermediate and short multi-step syntheses for medium scale API’s; Beuvry-la-Forêt for complex multi-step syntheses, short campaigns and niche API’s; Dunkirk for high-volume API’s, solid treatments and corticosteroids.

Minakem will have a unified commercial and marketing team and will implement a key account management policy for its major custom-synthesis clients. Chemtec Leuna GmbH will be renamed Minakem Leuna GmbH and remains managed by Karsten Fischer. Minakem SAS will be renamed Minakem Dunkerque SAS and Alexandre Gruman will serve as managing director.