Covance doubles capacity at Madison site
The expanded facility will offer clients preclinical, clinical and chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) services, which allows Covance to provide a complete molecule development programme.
Expanding the facility’s CMC capacity is seen as an important step by Henry Hummel, vice president and general manager, Madison sites, Covance.
Hummel explained: "Together with our integrated discovery, preclinical and clinical service offerings and dedicated program management team, we can now offer CMC analytical services as part of an entire molecule development program."
The company offers a suite of CMC services, including analytical method development, validation and transfer, stability and product release testing.
Hummel added: "Covance is committed to providing world-class CMC analytical services for our clients to provide the highest quality data and reduce developments timelines.”
The expansion houses upgraded stability chambers equipped with high-density tracked shelving, which Covance claims will significantly increase pharmaceutical analysis service capacity and utilisation.
Space has been allocated for up to 10 walk-in chambers and several reach-in versions. In addition the facility has space for further expansion.
CROs in the downturn
Covance, like many contract research organisations (CRO), has suffered because of reduced demand for services in the economic downturn.
This resulted in the company reducing its forecast for the year when its Q1 results were published.
The coming months will see the publication of Q2 results of numerous CROs, which should give some idea of the validity of Joe Herring’s, Covance’s CEO, assertion that “bottoming of demand is underway”.
Despite posting a $17m loss MDS Pharma Services, which posted its Q2 results earlier than other CROs, said the backlog in its early stage had increased by 10 per cent, offering some cause for optimism in the economic gloom.
