More than 20 years of experience in complex oral forms
Through many years of involvement and achievements in the pharmaceutical industry, Skyepharma’s development and manufacturing facility is a leader in the field of classic and complex oral solid dosage forms.
Jacques Gonnella creates JAGO AG, a small Swiss private company specialized in development.
JAGO acquires the Geomatrix® patent from the University of Pavia, allowing the creation of its drug delivery business.
Ian Gowrie-Smith, founder of Medeva, creates SkyePharma plc as a virtual entity. Skyepharma then acquires JAGO AG, operating under that name before rebranding as Skyepharma AG two years later.
Skyepharma acquires its Saint-Quentin-Fallavier production site from Wyeth*. Skyepharma has subsequently invested in the site to adapt it to the production of modified-release tablets, particularly those using the patented Geomatrix® technology.
Skyepharma obtains FDA certification with the manufacturing of tablets using Geomatrix® technology for a US generic. In this period of time, Skyepharma also developed an mdDPI Foradil (formoterol) for Novartis that had been approved in more than 30 countries including the USA. The Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site ensured the filling of DPI until the product was withdrawn from the market.
Skyepharma develops its business by acquiring several companies:
– The American company Depotech (San Diego), specialized in the development of sustained-release injectables, which became “Skyepharma Inc”.
– Bioglan Pharma (DK) and Hyal Pharmaceutical (Canada) Corporation, both specialized in topical products. Hyal originated Solaraze.
– The Montreal-based RTP pharma company that was the origin of Triglide.
Skyepharma sells Skyepharma Inc (formerly Depotech), Bioglan, and closes Skyepharma Canada (formerly RTP) to focus on its historical activities: oral and inhalation. (Skyepharma Inc is now PACIRA).
The Saint-Quentin-Fallavier site is under a management lease agreement with the German CMO Aenova.
The owner being Skyepharma plc and the tenant Aenova. The activity is carried out under the name Aenova.
Following the 5-year lease management by Aenova, SkyePharma PLC merges with the Vectura group, an industry-leading inhaled respiratory disease-focused business . The inhaled activity of SkyePharma PLC is absorbed by Vectura and Skyepharma Production is created as an entity to perform Oral Business Unit activities.
Skyepharma becomes a newly independent CDMO.
* The Saint-Quentin-Fallavier plant was built in 1990 by the American laboratory Lederle, then a subsidiary of the American Cyanamid chemical group (Lederle then became Wyeth-Lederle, a subsidiary of the American Home Products group, which was itself acquired by Pfizer). The site replaced the former Oullins (Rhône) plant.