Huvepharma recently announced that it is investing in a major plant extension at its production facility in Peshtera, Bulgaria.

The addition of more than 3,000 cu. m in fermentation capacity will double the site's production capabilities, resulting in a 50% increase in Huvepharma’s overall fermentation capacity. This investment will give the company close to 10,000 cu. m of fermentation capacity, which makes it one of the largest fully integrated animal health production sites globally, the announcement said.

Huvepharma said the total investment of 150 million euros includes the expansion of not only the fermenters but also all upstream and downstream processes as well as enhanced packaging equipment for finished products.

The first phase of the expansion is planned for early 2018 followed by the new site reaching full operational status by the end of 2019.

Huvepharma produces in its own facilities more than 90% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for its animal health product range, which includes a dozen different molecules that are produced at three fermentation sites in Bulgaria: Peshtera, Razgrad and Botevgrad. These production sites are multifunctional and can alternate among fermentation campaigns for the various molecules, depending on market demand.

Presently, the Huvepharma sites are producing molecules such as coccidiostats, antibiotics, enzymes and human health APIs. Products produced include the major brands Sacox, Coxidin, Optiphos, Hostazym, Pharmasin, Tilmovet, Vetmulin and Parofor, which are all exported — 30% to European Union countries and 70% to other global markets.

Huvepharma noted that the Peshtera expansion supplements the 2012 addition of a fermentation site in Razgrad as well as the acquisition in early 2016 of a Sanofi site in Garessio, Italy. With the Garessio acquisition, Huvepharma realized important backward integration of chemical synthesis that further complements the fermentation expertise of its sites in Bulgaria.

With each investment, Huvepharma said it further realizes its strategy to secure fully integrated EU/U.S.-based production capacity. Currently, Huvepharma operates four production sites in Europe and five sites in the U.S.