ISPE, a global not-for-profit association of 22,000 technical professionals working in the manufacturing and drug development sectors of the pharmaceutical industry,announced during the keynote session at its 2010 annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., that Genentech’s ECP-1 bacterial manufacturing facility is the overall winner of the 2010 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) program.
Sponsored by ISPE, INTERPHEX and Pharmaceutical Processing magazine, the Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) program recognizes state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that utilize new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines. Now in its sixth year, the awards program effectively spotlights the accomplishments, shared commitment, and dedication of individuals in companies worldwide to innovate and advance pharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the benefit of all global consumers.
Located in Tuas, Singapore, Genentech’s ECP-1 bacterial manufacturing facility was named the 2010 overall winner due to its innovative project execution, which outpaced an ambitious schedule. The facility, which was built to increase the production capacity of Lucentis, a drug used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, was placed on an ultra-fast track schedule, and was slated to go from engineering kick-off through initiation of GMP qualification batches in just 24 months.
The business requirements of the ECP-1 project presented significant schedule, cost, and execution challenges. The project team took a highly collaborative approach, led by Genentech’s effective decision making. By embracing a modular approach from the beginning, along with an early focus on site issues, outstanding project planning, execution techniques, and team development, the project team beat the aggressive schedule by two weeks. Additionally, the project came in 10.5 percent under a US$217 million budget. The 2010 FOYA judging panel was impressed by the way Genentech’s project brought together three geographic regions to work together and overcome severe logistical challenges.
Genentech’s ECP-1 bacterial manufacturing facility was selected as the overall winner of the 2010 Facility of the Year Awards by a judging panel consisting of eight prominent pharmaceutical industry professionals with global experience. In addition to Genentech, five other companies were Category Winners in 2010. They were:
- Biogen Idec, headquartered in Weston, Mass., winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Operational Excellence
- MannKind Corporation, headquartered in Calif., winner of the Facility of the Year Awards for both Equipment Innovation and Process Innovation
- Pfizer Biotechnology Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland, winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Sustainability
- Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, located in Dublin, Ireland, winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Facility Integration
More information about each of the winning projects, as well as the Facility of the Year Awards program in general, can be found at www.FacilityoftheYear.org.
About Genentech
Founded more than 30 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines for patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco.
About ISPE
ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is the society of choice for 22,000 technical professionals working in or serving the manufacturing sector or drug development in the pharmaceutical industry in 90 countries. ISPE aims to be the catalyst for "Engineering Pharmaceutical Innovation" by providing members with opportunities to develop their technical knowledge, exchange practical experience within their community, enhance their professional skills, and collaborate with global regulatory agencies and industry leaders. Founded in 1980, ISPE offers online learning opportunities for a global audience and has its worldwide headquarters in Tampa, Fla.; its European office in Brussels, Belgium; an Asia Pacific office in Singapore; and its newest office in Shanghai, China. Visit www.ISPE.org for additional society news and information.
