Pharma Action's new crude heparin factory located in the Aurea industrial park, near Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, has been officially opened.
The factory, which will produce 30 tonnes of the pharmaceutical intermediate crude heparin, will start production in the fourth quarter. It will be able to process around 60% of Europe's traceable heparin raw material in Germany.
Toennies, a global company with many years of experience and expertise in the meat industry, fulfills all international requirements with respect to quality and hygiene. This expertise also ensures the complete traceability of the heparin raw material, which is derived from pig intestinal mucosa.
In the near future, the 3,500m2 production area in Aurea, equipped with novel and state-of-the-art equipment, will use innovative techniques to process the crude heparin.
The slogan 'Made in Germany' embodies Pharma Action's company mission through which product quality, as rated by internationally accepted standards, is ensured. The origin of the product is completely traceable and guaranteed by Toennies which handles the pigs' slaughter, dissection, preparation, consumer-ready packing and shipment all under one roof. This closed-loop supply chain allows the precise tracking of the origin/source of the raw material for the company's products. This also applies to the pig intestinal mucosa that will be transported to the Aurea factory for heparin extraction.
Both companies place considerable value on the quality of the end products
The decision to branch into the pharmaceutical industry was something that Toennies had been considering for many years. With the acquisition of a controlling stake in Pharma Action in May 2012, the company has been able to capitalise on the synergies between the two companies: the pig intestinal mucosa generated by the slaughter of pigs at Toennies is converted by Pharma Action into crude heparin. This is then further refined to the anticoagulant heparin, which is widely used in the prevention and treatment of embolisms and thrombosis, or in surgical operations or for the treatment of heart disease.
Clemens Toennies, Managing Director of the Toennies Group, explained the significance of the new processing plant. 'We constantly develop, evolve and seek new and attractive possibilities to position ourselves for the future. By entering the pharmaceutical market, we show the company's potential and the opportunities it has for the future,' he said.
Erol Thomas Isim, Managing Director of Pharma Action, said both companies place considerable value on the quality of the end products, which are intentionally labelled 'Made in Germany' to emphasise their high quality and the reliability of manufacture. The factory also has GMP certification.
In addition to Europe, the products will be sold in the US and Japan.
