SCM Pharma (www.scm-pharma.com), which manufactures drugs on behalf of its clients for clinical trials and commercial market supply, is one of only 40 businesses that has been successful in winning the UKTI Horizons grant.

 

The sterile fill/finish specialist is to target a number of high-growth overseas markets and the £30k grant will provide it with the support required to develop and implement a market entry plan and ultimately secure more international clients. .

 

Shirley Dann, managing director at SCM Pharma, said: “Having grown the business from UK-based clients over the past few years, our eyes are now firmly set on targeting specific international markets with our specialist service offerings in order to expand the business further.

 

“Given we offer the ability to sterile manufacture and/or aseptically process radio-labelled compounds, highly potent products, biologicals and fill drug device combinations in one facility, we expect this will appeal to pharma, biotech, medical device and other healthcare companies across the world.

 

“The export grant we have been awarded by UKTI certainly endorses our plans and validates that SCM Pharma is heading in the right direction. We have already picked-up a number of overseas contracts and expect the fund to help us raise our profile in new markets, generate enquiries and win new contracts,” added Mrs Dann.

 

Over the last year, the CMO has grown by almost 50% to post a record year, maintaining much of its existing client base and doubling the number of clients on the way. Around half of the projects undertaken are novel or bespoke and generally require a high level of technical expertise and facilities.

 

SCM Pharma has worked on various product indications across a number of therapeutic areas including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, dermatitis, needle-free injection technology and sexual health.

 

The company offers sterile and non-sterile GMP production services to assist clients progressing their innovative drug products or medical devices through clinical trials. With an emphasis on hazardous, novel and difficult new products, SCM Pharma also provides other customers with a commercial supply of licensed products requiring ongoing small-medium scale volumes.

 

Working with its dedicated UKTI International Trade Adviser Craig Daglish, the pharma specialist is commencing a ten month sales and marketing campaign that will involve a range of activities such as initial market research, participation at key events and exhibitions and help with translation services.

 

Craig said: “The Horizon’s scheme aims to support companies in the North East that have the ability to significantly grow their turnover in overseas markets. We are specifically looking to support those companies that have an internationally competitive product or service, that coupled with our support will not only bring a significant return on investment for the company, but also for the region as a whole. 

 

“SCM Pharma’s range of outsourced manufacturing services will be of significant interest to a number pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and healthcare companies worldwide,” added Craig.

 

The Horizons scheme was launched last summer as a new £1 million programme from UKTI and One North East through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF 2007-13 programme is bringing over £300m into North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support. It will help create and safeguard 28,000 new jobs, start 3,000 new businesses and increase the region’s productivity by £1.1bn per annum.

 

Working with top 20 pharma, small biotech firms, virtual companies, hospitals and universities, the CMO operates a centre for excellence. It provides an innovative approach to pharmaceutical contract manufacturing by offering companies of all sizes the opportunity to use its specialist expertise to develop and trial drugs and devices, ultimately seeing them through to market.

 

 

ENDS

 

Raman Sehgal

SCM Pharma

01661 838 186