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The Axplora group (formerly known as Novasep, then Novasep-Pharmazell) confirmed to us this Wednesday the information we gave on September 16. Namely that its Mourenx site, on the Chem'Pôle 64 platform, would become one of the most important linchpins for the manufacture of one of these drugs, on behalf of a pharmaceutical player with worldwide.
“After a first contact last May, the contracts were signed during the third week of December,” explains Daniel Lasanow, director of the Mourenx and Chasse-sur-Rhône sites at Axplora.
A contract synonymous with “an important step” for the Béarnaise factory, which will add a new string to its bow, by somehow integrating biology with chemistry in its processes. “The pharmaceutical industry is moving more and more towards this type of biological production which is much more demanding in terms of environment and production conditions,” notes the manager.
Called Kairos, it is a “transformative” project which will place the site “at the forefront of innovation to treat obesity and diabetes. And make Mourenx a center of excellence for our group” explains Daniel Lasanow.
A major investment
To support this ambition and this project, Axplora will invest more than 50 million euros in infrastructure and equipment. Initially, the idea is to redevelop one of the current units, the building where the chromatography equipment is located “which we will have to adjust for new productions” specifies the director.
“We will also have a vertical extension of part of this building, to add insulation equipment.” Dismantling has begun and the completion of this initial work is planned for Kairos to be operational at the end of 2025.
Then, in a second phase, after 2025, “when we increase the commercial scale further, there will also be a horizontal extension of a few tens of square meters”.
Concerning the product, it is the heart of a so-called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) therapy, with a hormone which must regulate glucose levels and appetite. In Mourenx, the raw active ingredient supplied by the customer will be purified.
Several kilos produced per day
“In a very strict and regulated environment, our mission will be to bring this product to very high purities, via chromatography columns, then to dry it and isolate it, to create the active ingredient” explains the manager . This ingredient, in powder form, will then be sent to the customer for formulation before obtaining the final product, to be ingested or injected.
From Mourenx, several kilos of ingredients will come out per day. “We are committed to providing effective treatments as quickly as possible. What interested the customer was our technology and our large capacity for purification of molecules. We have here one of the largest installations in the world in this area,” recalls Daniel Lasanow.
According to Axplora, this project will also create long-term jobs, “quality, well-paid jobs, with new expertise”. The Mourenx site has 140 employees today. “We will initially stay with the same workforce, firstly promoting training” adds the director.
What do you give Paxlovid and give Omega 3?
The priority is this new Kairos project. Axplora makes this clear. However, the Mourenx site will not abandon the two synthetic products it currently produces and will respond to orders as they arise. Namely those concerning Pfizer's Paxlovid, “production is planned at least until the end of 2026”. And those for the production of Omega 3, from sardine or anchovy oil. These molecules, then, are used for the manufacture of a drug intended for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. “Our goal is to continue serving this market by 2030 and even beyond.”
As for the creation in Béarn of a pilot workshop concerning the production capacities of active pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly for cancer treatments, this is no longer the priority now.
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