Skyepharma is a fully-integrated CDMO specialised in formulating, developing and producing complex oral dosage forms and expanding into Bioproduction with the opening of their new SkyeHub plant.
Based outside Lyon, France, the company offers their worldwide customer base a full range of services, from early stage development to industrial manufacturing and packaging.
Following a management buyout in 2021, SkyePharma is now fully owned by its management team.
In the latest episode of the PharmaSource podcast Skyepharma CEO David Lescuyer and Chief Business Officer Laurent Rigaudeau discuss the transformation journey the company is on.
“The management buyout allowed us to continue on our growth path as an independent French company.” says David.
“Now when a client meets the management team, they also meet the owners of Skyepharma. We are truly committed to the projects of our clients”.
Skyehub: New bioproduction capabilities
A significant milestone for the CDMO is the recent completition of Skyehub, their new bioproduction plant, developed in partnership with MaaT Pharma.
“Skyehub was answer to something that was missing in the market.” says David, explaining how they have been working with MaaT Pharma since 2018 and together conceived a facility that could finalise the development of their product under GMP conditions for commercial use.
The plant is owned by SkyePharma, and available for other companies from early 2024.
“We had to build a brand new biotech plant with clean rooms inside, in line with the latest bioproduction requirements. We had to implement the right quality system that allows them to produce under GMP conditions, and it all had to be delivered in in 13 months.”
Hitting these goals “was a huge challenge” says David, but the project was delivered on time and to budget.
In addition, over the last two years Skyepharma have adapted their facility to the production of Highly potent APIs (HPAPI), says Laurent.
“We have built a dedicated building for research and development of HPAPIs. The next exciting project for us is to launch a fully dedicated new area to expand our services into more complex molecules and oncological products.”
Laurent Rigaudeau
Evolving to a P(Partnering)DMO
As the contract manufacturing market evolves, Skyepharma recognise that they needed to evolve from a CDMO to a PDMO (Partnering Development & Manufacturing Organisation).
“Following COVID, Brexit and now inflation, it’s really key for us to focus on robust supply chains.” says David.
“It is important for us to set up long term partnerships with our clients and suppliers. We need robust partnerships to create value for the whole value chain and ultimately for the patients.
Visit the Skyepharma website for more information
