Taoiseach launches BioUetikon
Monday 28 April 2008

Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern pictured with Managing Director of BioUetikon, Mike Mulcahy

BioUetikon, an Irish biotechnology services company which is based on the DCU campus, was launched by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD.

BioUetikon is a division of the Swiss-based CPH Chemie and Papier Holdings Group. CPH has a specific interest in pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and pharmaceutical packaging. It has an annual turnover of €400m and employs 1000 people.

DCU has a 20% shareholding in BioUetikon and CPH has an 80% shareholding.

It is the first company in Ireland to offer contract bioprocess development and 'Good Manufacturing Practice' bioproduction services to pharmaceutical industry. It will take the research ideas and put them into production on a contract basis for biopharmaceutical companies.

It has already produced a bio-drug substance for the treatment of infertility and has helped develop a process for manufacture of a biopharmaceutical product used to treat anaemia and other blood disorders.

Its latest contract is to develop a process and produce a regenerative medical device 'scaffold' which will reduce the need for joint replacements. Over 2m people worldwide have joint replacement procedures every year. While joint surgery can be painful and implants have a limited life-span, this new product being developed at the BioUetikon facility will help surgeons to treat joint injuries more effectively without the need for open surgery".

The new product or 'scaffold' has already undergone pre-clinical trials and will go to clinical trial later this year.

Biouetikon chose to locate in Ireland due to the Irish government's approach and commitment to the pharmaceutical industry and because of its business-friendly environment.

According to Managing Director of BioUetikon, Mike Mulcahy, "Many new treatments for diseases such as cancer, immune diseases and AIDS are being discovered through life science research. These potential treatments need to be developed and manufactured with expertise in 'good manufacturing practice' which includes safety standards and effective production techniques. BioUetikon has the facilities, as well as the qualified and experienced personnel to convert scientific 'discovery' into commercial supply of drugs, thus taking advantage of the growing multi-million dollars global market in the pharmaceutical industry".

The service provided by BioUetikon aims to attract international clients to Ireland.