Hovione, an integrated CDMO and specialist in spray drying and particle engineering, and GEA, a global process technology provider, advanced their partnership with new development agreements, the launch of the ConsiGma CDC flex, and the installation of a new lab-scale R&D Continuous Tableting rig in Hovione´s facilities in Portugal.

The two companies’ collective and complementary knowledge of continuous tableting is being applied to streamline the technology and make it more accessible to pharmaceutical customers worldwide. Two teams are collaborating to bring continuous tableting to the same level of maturity as batch tableting, thereby capturing the benefits of continuous manufacturing while reducing the downsides.

The ConsiGma CDC flex was designed as a versatile system which can operate seamlessly in both continuous and batch modes and offer both high and low throughput functionality. With a focus on user-friendliness, the ConsiGma range will be augmented further with new developments to simplify routine development operations and introduce automated workflows and Smart controls interfaces to help streamline production processes.

GEA will also supply Hovione with lab-scale feeding and blending systems for research and development applications which will bolster Hovione’s current GMP equipment for both continuous direct compression (CDC) and wet granulation continuous tableting and complement the non-GMP test capabilities of GEA in Wommelgem.

“We believe that continuous tableting can offer significant benefits to our customers, not only by shortening time to market and reducing development and manufacturing costs but also by improving product quality and sustainability,” said Filipe Gaspar, VP Technology Intensification at Hovione. “Through our collaboration with GEA, we aim to revolutionize the continuous production of oral solid dosage forms, making the technology more accessible and efficient for pharma customers.”

“Hovione and GEA benefit from a very large and complementary pool of continuous tableting experts; together, their collective knowledge is being applied to make continuous processing much less complex,” said Phillip Gabb, Strategic Business Director, Pharma Solid Dosage at GEA Pharma & Healthcare. “There is an industry perception that a lot of highly qualified and well-trained people are required to run a continuous line. The partnership’s intention is to simplify that, make it no different to running a standard tablet press and enable existing operators — with the right guidance — to use continuous manufacturing equipment.”