Abbott Opens New Research Facility and Pilot Plant in Ludwigshafen

10-14-2008: Abbott announced the opening of new development laboratories and a pilot plant facility that will research technologies and test large-scale production of newly developed drug formulations. The expansion is part of Abbott's global drug delivery business, SOLIQS, which is based in Ludwigshafen.

"Abbott is committed to advancing scientific innovation and bringing new medicines to patients," saidJohn M. Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals, Research and Development, Abbott. "Innovative drug formulation is critical to the development of effective new treatments that make a difference for patients."

"Nearly 40 percent of pharmaceutical compounds never reach the clinical study phase because they cannot be absorbed in the human body," saidJorg Breitenbach, Ph.D., senior director of drug product development and head of SOLIQS. "The SOLIQS expansion builds on Abbott's expertise in drug delivery technology and addresses the rising demand for innovative, patient-focused formulations."

The facility will evaluate new processes to complement its current proprietary technologies that target the formulation of soluble complex pharmaceutical substances. Using the Meltrex(TM) technology, Abbott developed a new tablet formulation of its leading protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir (known as Kaletra(R)), which is the first and only co-formulated protease inhibitor tablet that does not require refrigeration and can be taken with or without food - two important advances in delivering HIV medicine, especially in developing countries where disease prevalence is highest. The tablet formulation also offers the increased dosing convenience of fewer pills (a total daily dose of four tablets, instead of six soft-gel capsules).