Aenova France, a wholly-owned subsidiary Aenova Holding, will lease the whole pharmaceutical manufacturing business and the premises at Saint Quentin-Fallavier, Lyon to SkyePharma Group for an initial period of two years, extendable for a further three years. During the lease period the parties may have further discussions to extend the alliance beyond the fifth anniversary.The tie up allows SkyePharma to hold its current contractual arrangements with its collaborators and Aenova is expected to continue manufacturing all SkyePharma products currently manufactured at the Facility and supply them to SkyePharma.
Further, SkyePharma intends to continue working with Aenova to use the facility for manufacturing oral products that are under development by SkyePharma.
Aenova plans to carry out technical transfer and development work in order to be able to introduce the manufacture of additional products into the facility from 2013 onwards.
As per the terms of the agreement, SkyePharma is eligible to get rent at a rate of EUR1m per annum in cash for the first two years.
Aenova CEO Heiner Hoppmann said this is an important strategic move for Aenova, providing them with a FDA-approved manufacturing site with substantial surplus capacity to support their ambitious plans for growth in the US market.
“We are looking forward to a long and successful alliance with SkyePharma,” Hoppmann said.
