< PreviousM&A ROUND-UP 10 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net technology innovator Danaher Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Abcam, a supplier of protein consumables, in a $5.7 billion transaction. Abcam offers the scientific community highly validated antibodies, reagents, biomarkers and assays to address targets in biological pathways that are critical for advancing drug discovery, life sciences research, and diagnostics. Its technologies are used by approximately 750,000 researchers. It is anticipated that Abcam will operate as a standalone operating company and brand within Danaher’s Life Sciences segment. Rainer M. Blair, president and Chief Executive Officer, Danaher, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Abcam join Danaher. Abcam’s long track record of innovation, outstanding product quality and breadth of antibody portfolio positions them as a key partner for the scientific community. We look forward to welcoming Abcam’s innovative and talented team to Danaher as we continue to help our customers solve some of the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.” Alan Hirzel, Chief Executive Officer, Abcam, said: “Our strategy has transformed Abcam to become a scale innovator and important catalyst in the global life science community. Danaher shares our passion to help life science researchers achieve their mission faster and their operating company model allows us to continue to pursue our strategy, while harnessing the power of the Danaher Business System to ensure we remain the partner of choice for our customers.” Novo Nordisk - Inversago Pharma Furthermore, Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire Inversago for up to $1.075 billion in cash. Inversago Pharma is a developer of CB1 receptor-based therapies for the potential treatment of obesity, diabetes and complications associated with metabolic disorders. The deal includes Inversago’s lead development asset INV-202, an oral CB1 inverse agonist. INV-202 is designed to preferentially block the receptor protein CB1 – which plays an important role in metabolism and appetite regulation – in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissues, the gastro-intestinal tract, the kidneys, liver, pancreas, muscles and lungs. INV-202 demonstrated weight loss potential in a phase 1b trial and is currently in a phase 2 trial for diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Additional pipeline assets are also being developed for metabolic and fibrotic disorders. Novo Nordisk intends to investigate the potential of INV-202 for obesity and obesity-related complications. Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk, said: “The acquisition of Inversago Pharma will further strengthen our clinical development pipeline in obesity and related disorders. This promising class of medicine pioneered by the Inversago team could lead to life- changing new treatment options for those living with a serious chronic disease and, in particular, may offer alternative or complementary solutions for people living with obesity.” François Ravenelle, CEO of Inversago Pharma, said: “We are delighted to join forces with a global leader in the obesity and metabolic disorder space. We believe this combination will help unlock the full medical potential of our CB1 blockers and may one day expand treatment options for people living with metabolic syndrome, obesity and related complications. Novo Nordisk has world- class research facilities, significant global reach and a rich culture of collaboration seeking to bring our therapeutic treatments to market.”Pharma Business International 11 www.pbiforum.net M&A ROUND-UP © stock.adobe.com/Malik E/peopleimages.comMACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 12 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net Industry 4.0 © stock.adobe.com/IM ImageryPharma Business International 13 www.pbiforum.net MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT O ne of the most important methods by which to optimise automation is to understand that the process is more than just the machinery involved, and much more about the processes that tie it together. In many cases, this refers to software systems. Digital control of processes at every stage of the process allows for rapid monitoring, identification of problems and action to address such. Industry 4.0 (also known as the fourth industrial revolution) has taken too long to be adopted by many, faced in no small part by resistance from labour groups, unions, but also governments not wanting to face the losses of jobs implied by such a change. When it was first introduced, manufacturers saw Industry 4.0 only as a means of raising productivity by the number of products handled or sorted, and with a reduction in labour. What many did not realise, and which some still do not, is that it is an opportunity to invent or reinvent their offerings and strengthen their competitive position. © stock.adobe.com/navintar The future of machinery is now and, in all honesty, it should have been years ago. 15 ÁMACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 14 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/MIKHAILPharma Business International 15 www.pbiforum.net MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT One need only look at China, long considered a manufacturer of cheap knock-off products, rising up through automation to challenge many other economies. Proper automation also goes hand in hand with traceability, which is another such offering that companies investing in proper automation, including data transfer, can find. When products are monitored at all times through machine process, with information and serial numbers logged, any problems can be traced back through the whole system, and recalls can be issued to the specific locations the drugs went to, rather than to the entire market. Not only does this save costs involved with recalls, but it allows for quick responses that can help to alleviate concern and avoid negative coverage and scandal. For example, mix ups in hand-offs are a large disruptor, especially when drugs have specific shipping requirements. For example, many vaccines must be kept refrigerated at a specific temperature throughout their journey, and if this isn’t communicated, it can render a whole batch unusable. Fully integrated and automated ingredient to consumer batch tracking using barcoding, RFID tagging, or IoT temperature logging and timestamping significantly reduces the chance of these mix-ups. This carries on to a reduction in safety stock among pharmaceutical companies – as reduced errors and disruptions to a process mean less safety stock required. In 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, the pharmaceutical sector saw a staggering 71% increase in supply chain disruption. This was obviously an isolated incident due to heightened demand and a worldwide pandemic scenario, but it does highlight the risks involved, and the staggering cost of mistakes. These disruptions are far less likely to happen when a robust and optimised automation process is involved – one which specifically makes use of IoT, scanning, vision control, serialisation and more, and doesn’t just work on the barebones concept of performing the routine movements that a human operative would. When looking at automation, the focus must not only be on replacing the human element for the sake of avoiding labour costs, but on expanding the responsibilities of the machine – because a machine can multi-task and handle more than a human could. It is wasteful to only consider the requirements, when there are greater opportunities to optimise in ways that will surpass a human controller by ten times or more. VISION, INSPECTION AND DETECTION 16 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/Kadmy Machine vision Machine vision Pharma Business International 17 www.pbiforum.net VISION, INSPECTION AND DETECTION he increasing demand for complete product integrity in the pharma industry means that the production process must now incorporate all- encompassing and effective inspection to ensure potential contaminants are located and removed swiftly. However, the industry must do this while retailers and consumers demand the supply chain moves faster than ever. It is no longer reasonable or viable to expect human inspection to be fit for the task. The solution, as ever, lies with technology. This feature examines the ways in which vision systems, ID readers and sensors are being employed to complete these tasks as quickly and effectively as possible. There is only so much that human inspection can achieve in any production environment. Given that consumer safety is absolutely essential from both a commercial and an ethical standpoint, it is vital that any potential for error is eliminated. For the most part, pharma manufacturers use Machine Vision Systems to carry out tasks such as counting large numbers of units on the production line, reading product labels to ensure they contain accurate labelling information, and testing for faults in the packaging of a product which could result in contamination or Quality assurance and health and safety both rely on good inspection, and we are long past the point where the human eye can be of any practical use in a factory setting. As demand for machine vision systems increases however, the complexity of the task rises in tandem. 18 ÁVISION, INSPECTION AND DETECTION 18 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/arcyto degradation. These systems are also employed during the initial stages of the manufacturing process to measure individual ingredients, so detailed information is available at every step of the supply chain thanks to their integration with ever-more sophisticated hardware. 100% quality control is the bottom line, and virtually every process from harvesting to sorting to packaging is now using these technologies, significantly cutting down costs while reducing the risk of contamination at every stage. The options in this area are certainly becoming more advanced, however – meaning contamination and mistakes can be spotted almost immediately without the requirement of lengthy downtime or the need to destroy a large number of products. Of course, product recalls are also something to be avoided, especially since they can fatally damage relations with both customer and consumers. Product safety – an absolute must in a quality driven environment – can also be guaranteed through the use of Machine Vision Systems. For example, laser triangulation devices similar to those used to measure size, weight and consistency can be employed to ensure Pharma Business International 19 www.pbiforum.net VISION, INSPECTION AND DETECTION the overall integrity of a product’s packaging. To guarantee maximum security and prevent potential contamination, it is vital that any seals, lids, bags and bottle-tops are checked for flaws or signs of tampering. Triangulation devices will do a much better job than older 2-D imaging systems because they are able to capture a far greater level of detail, identifying even the smallest imperfections. The other advantage of using a 3D system, of course, is that it will pick up flaws on every side of a unit of packaging and not just on its immediately visible surfaces. Manufacturers are also focused on reducing the impact of their systems on the manufacturing process. While hygiene and safety are important, the efficiency and profitability of a site still needs to be a major concern – as even the slightest interruption can prove costly. Machine Vision Systems will shape the future of the pharmaceuticals industry in a variety of ways. Automated systems can help save time and money at every stage of the production process. They can also be used to ensure product safety, which, in a quality-driven world where reputations are constantly on the line, is all but necessary. Next >