Gimv invests in BioConnection, a contract development and manufacturing organisation for injectable (bio)pharmaceutical products.
With current shareholders Pharming Group, Mibiton, and management, Gimv invests in BioConnection with the goal of accelerating the next stage of growth and facilitating further innovation in order to continue providing the highest quality services to clients. BioConnection has been supported by the Brabant Development Agency (BOM) since its inception and has since sold its shares.
BioConnection is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that specializes in injectable (bio)pharmaceutical fill and finish and freeze-drying. The company is one of the few niche players with both clinical and commercial manufacturing capabilities, operating from its FDA and GMP approved manufacturing facility in Oss (NL).
Aseptic fill & finish is a specialized type of manufacturing for (liquid) final dosage form of drugs that requires an aseptic environment, high-quality equipment, and freeze-drying expertise, and BioConnection operates in this fast-growing market. Freeze drying, in particular, necessitates specialized knowledge because it is a highly complex technology that stabilizes drugs and extends their shelf life (reducing waste and improving access to medicine). As a result of BioConnection’s expertise, infrastructure, and flexible set-up, (bio)pharmaceutical companies are increasingly relying on it for these services (providing tailored offering).
The position of CDMOs has become even more important as a result of the rapidly growing (bio)pharmaceutical industry, the growing capacity shortage in the entire sector, and the shift toward outsourced production for pharmaceutical companies. Significant investments are planned for BioConnection in the near future in order to continue providing the highest quality service to its customers. Investments will be made to improve overall production capacity, increase production flexibility, stay fully compliant with ever-increasing regulatory demands, and insource additional services like formulation, analytical testing, and packaging.
Gimv looks forward to supporting BioConnection in its next growth phase, alongside co-shareholders Pharming Group, Mibiton, and management, by investing more in the organization and infrastructure to increase production capacity and extend services to customers. In addition, Gimv will use its life sciences network to support BioConnection even more.
Elderd Land, Partner at Gimv, states: “We are very impressed by what Alexander and his team have built over the last decade. The quality of the facilities, the ability to serve and grow at small and medium sized companies and the contribution to the overall development in the pharma space (i.e. personalised medicine) is unparalleled in this size bracket. We are very much looking forward to supporting BioConnection through its next growth phase and to continuing to build this already leading company.”
Alexander Willemse, CEO of BioConnection, says: “We are happy to have found a partner for the next stage of BioConnection. With the new shareholding structure BioConnection is able to fund and further develop our people, infrastructure and service offering. This enables us to fulfil the needs of innovative (bio) pharmaceutical companies by offering the highest quality CDMO services on the market.”
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