• Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Section 1: Introduction
04 Introduction to USA Life Sciences Industry
05 Janssen Interview
06 Etihad Cargo Interview
07 UPS Healthcare Interview
08 The Investment Climate
09 MPM | BioImpact Capital Interview
10 Industry Insights: Promising Forecasts for Consolidation and M&As
11 The Regulatory Landscape
12 Porzio Life Sciences Interview
13 PBOA Interview
14 EY USA Interview
15 LaVoieHealthScience Interview
16 Section 2: Established and Emerging Hubs
17 Map of US-based life sciences companies interviewed
18 The East and the West
19 BioNJ Interview
20 MassBio Interview
21 Biocom California Interview
22 PABC Interview
23 Growing Life Sciences Hubs
24 JLL Interview
25 Industry Insights: From Ivory Towers to Incubators
26 Section 3: Drug Discovery and Development
27 Drug Discovery and Development
28 Sangamo Therapeutics Interview
29 PsychoGenics Interview
30 Aphios Corporation Interview
31 Industry Insights: Biotechs Fairing in 2023
32 Ymmunobio Interview
33 Section 4: Contract Manufacturing, Services and Chemicals
34 The Industry's Growing Reliance on CDMOs
35 Pfizer CentreOne Interview
36 CordenPharma International Interview
37 AMPAC Fine Chemicals Interview
38 Adare Pharma Solutions Interview
39 Aenova Group Interview
40 Dipharma Francis Interview
41 Kindeva Drug Delivery Interview
42 Prince Sterilization Services Interview
43 Interbiome Interview
44 Adopting a Proactive Stance
45 Lonza Interview
46 Aragen Life Sciences Interview
47 Industry Insights: Contractors, Manufacturers, and Lab Services
48 Nivagen Pharmaceuticals Interview
49 Chemicals and Service Providers
50 Evonik Health Care Interview
51 Section 5: New Technologies
52 Leveraging AI for Drug Discovery
53 Apprentice.io Interview
54 Technology for Patient Centricity
55 Illumina Interview
56 Section 6: Company Profiles
57 Porzio Life Sciences Company Profile
58 Adare Pharma Solutions Company Profile
59 SK pharmteco Company Profile
60 Article & Interview Directory
61 Credits

Jeff Butler President

AMPAC FINE CHEMICALS, AN SK PHARMTECO COMPANY

"AFC’s core technology differentiators include energetic chemistry, high potency manufacturing, and extensive chromatographic separation capabilities."

Can you give an update on AFC’s activities and key milestones achieved in 2022?

2022 was a great year for AMPAC Fine Chemicals (AFC) and SK pharmteco. The company expanded both geographically and in terms of capabilities – specifically in the US, with significant investment at all our manufacturing sites as well as AMPAC Analytical. We are proud to have successfully activated and qualified our new large-scale commercial production facility in Virginia.

Additionally, we proactively invested in our technologies, equipment, and personnel to launch a “Complex Molecule Chemistry & Engineering Center” in California, supporting the rising demands for therapies with complex chemistry, synthesis, and purifications. Together, these facilities further cement AFC as a leader in solving complex chemistry challenges as it relates to impurities in chromatography.

Are there any technological areas that currently prompt more demand from customers?

AFC’s core technology differentiators include energetic chemistry, high potency manufacturing, and extensive chromatographic separation capabilities. These technologies support many new therapies with higher purity standards and challenging impurity and synthesis. AFC has decades of experience in continuous processing technology as it relates to energetic chemistry. While continuous processing is well known at the large-scale commercial stage, AFC also has the unique capability to provide validated GMP synthesis at small to medium scales. This helps bridge the gap for customers rather than having to make that big jump between small-scale clinical to commercial.

Traditionally, AFC has focused on late-stage clinical and commercial development projects; however, we are now supporting projects in earlier stages, especially those that utilize our core technologies. Our key differentiator is the speed and flexibility at which we deliver solutions – which is critical to support the increasing clinical demands following the pandemic.

Can you speak to AFC’s sustainability initiatives?

AFC and SK pharmteco have been committed to sustainability for many years and have been recognized for our advancements in green chemistry.

We are also focused on the social side. Some of our recent initiatives include STEM education programs at schools and collaborating with universities to develop core talent for the industry.

How are new technologies helping improve services in the life sciences industry?

We believe we can better serve our customers through digital processes. Having an increased focus on data allows us to improve processes while maintaining speed and flexibility to deliver products on time and in full. Capitalizing upon SK pharmteco’s digitalization capabilities, we will continue to advance our processes for the small molecule side, as well as the cell and gene side with our sister companies. We have a strong commitment to cybersecurity to ensure that the data we generate is secure and that our customers have access to what they need so they can leverage it to continue to improve their processes.

What is your assessment of the supply-demand dynamics of high-potency APIs, and broader trends for CDMOs in the US in 2023?

High potency work is increasing in all therapeutic areas. It is important to continue to be at the forefront providing a reliable supply of material to the clinic and patients. AFC continues to invest in capabilities that can support the production of high potency materials. We ensure we have the proper engineering controls in place and the process chemistry technologies to support our customers from grams up to metric tons.

We expect to see a rise in clinical demand post-pandemic, as capital markets free up and customers again start to move their clinical candidates forward. However, there are still supply chain challenges resulting from the pandemic. Being agile and flexible to respond to changing dynamics is critical. Good CDMOs have developed alternative supply chains and redundancy. Companies and industries are also starting to look at onshoring production to Western supply chains. Together AFC’s sites in California, Virginia, and Texas, along with SK pharmteco’s global network, allow us to develop customized supply chain solutions that best fit customer needs.

What are AFC’s growth strategy and objectives for 2023 and beyond?

AFC’s ambition is to continue to expand and grow to support our customers at all scales and locations with speed and agility. We will continue to strengthen our core competencies, while also expanding into new focus areas, such as in oligonucleotides and lipids.

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