Martin Dow Healthcare: fully operational Since 2015, the Pakistani pharmaceutical group Martin Dow holds a production site dedicated to the main dosage forms used in the nutraceutical sector. Beyond the significant production and new product development capabilities claimed by the company, this structure positions itself as Martin Dow’s bridgehead for its growth in Europe. Our establishment in France is both the France. To achieve success, “we hadto strive for fruit of the group’s willingness to gain a excellence”. In the sensethat “ our culture and our foothold in Europe and of the oppor- knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry allow tunity we have been presented with, that is to take us to approach those pharmaceutical players who over a site that closed down and had previously spe- want to enter the sector of nutraceuticals”. cialized in the contract manufacturing of food sup- plements,” explains Munir Anwar, Chief Operating DIVERSITY AS AN ASSET Officer (COO) of Martin Dow Healthcare. Indeed, In March 2019, Martin Dow Healthcare inaugu- if the Healthcare Division of the Pakistani group rated a softgel production line. An activity that al- Martin Dow has been operating in Gien (150 kms lowed the company to complete its portfolio and south of Paris) since July 2015, that is because a site th to offer almost all types of dosage forms (capsules, that already produced food supplements had beenon sale (Editor’s note: the production facility of 5film-coated or uncoated tablets, sticks, sachets,liquids, softgels) and secondary packaging. “ The- V2Med, a company placed into liquidation). broad portfolio we have is an asset for our clients Before they launched the production of dry (April rank among the who can very quickly have a complete galenic offer 2016) and then liquid dosage forms (January 2017), pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan. available since we combine production capabilities the group invested a total of €800k to refurbish the with responsiveness,” Philippe Alphonse, Sales and unit (built area of 10,000 square metres - including Marketing Manager, says. Able to produce medium 4,250 square metres dedicated to production and5,000 square metres to storage (raw materials, pac- 10%and large batches, tmere aggregation of various professions, but it is or-he site ofGien “is not only a kaging items, finished products). ganized like a real ‘think tank’”, Philippe Alphonse “Martin Dow Group is the first Pakistanese phar- growth from 2019 to adds. In fact, “our desire is to go beyond produc- 2020. tion and offer concepts”. For example, for stress (ta- maceutical company to have set up in Europe,” adds Munir Anwar, who has supported the project blets combining saffron, Matricaria chamomile, all along (since 2012 it is him who has been res- Rhodiola and valerian roots, basil) or for the intes- ponsible for Martin Dow’s deployment into phar- tinal transit (tablets formulated with fennel fruit, maceuticals and nutraceuticals), especially since rhubarb and marsh-mallow roots, caraway seeds), the President-owner knows the European conti- by offering packaging ideas and dosage forms. To nent after having studied there in Great Britain and this end, project managers have all the internal structures they need to move forward: regulations that allow selecting the right ingredients; quality management and R&D. Once a formula is vali- dated (depending on the technology, on the do- sage forms and ingredient sourcing), Martin Dow Healthcare’s development proceeds with labora- tory testing, identifies the key parameters (particle size, hardness/friability of tablets, weight of dosage forms, density, etc.), before the industrial scale-up phase after the pilot testing ends. “Short relational structures associated with a real team spirit allow us to meet our clients’ expecta- tions and, sometimes, to anticipate them.” Such an example is the replacement of titanium dioxide in srentraP lairtsudnI — sleirtsudnI serianetraP- 241 -