AlcheraBio Announcements
August 2011: A big month for AlcheraBio's Parent Company Argenta
August marked the fifth anniversary of AlcheraBio’s parent company, Argenta. The month also brought several important announcements.
Argenta Global receives NZ Government Grant in Support of R&D
The New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation has announced that Auckland-based animal health company Argenta Global has been approved for a $4.7 million ($NZ) technology Development Grant over three years.
The grant, announced on 15 August 2011 by NZ Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp, is one of 19 awarded in round 2 of a $321 million multi-year Ministry business investment program launched in 2010. Grants reimburse 20% of eligible R&D expenditure up to $2.4 million (excluding GST) per year.
For more information click here.
Argenta Founder Named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Argenta founder and CEO Dr. Doug Cleverly is a scientist with a PhD, but it was his drive to put science in the context of commercial enterprise that led to the development of Argenta and, just recently, to an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. The awards were announced in August and presented in September. Dr. Cleverly’s award was in the Products category; other awards were presented in Services, Technology, Young Entrepreneur, and Master Entrepreneur categories.
For the full story related to the Entrepreneur of the Year award, click here
Argenta Seeks Partnerships at Animal Health Investment Forum
As reported in Veterinary Practice News, Argenta Ltd. of Auckland, New Zealand, sought strategic partnerships and alliances instead of direct equity investments to support its establishment of research and development laboratory services in the U.S. and increased staffing for its AlcheraBio clinical [contract] research [organization].
Argenta estimates it will spend about $4.5 million over three years establishing its U.S. presence, money it expects to recoup during that period through increased U.S. R&D contracts.
An estimated 750 animal health executives and public officials celebrated the region’s animal health sector during the Homecoming event. A highlight was Argenta’s announcement that it had selected the KC Animal Health Corridor as the location of a new U.S. R&D lab facility and office and its wholly-owned clinical research support provider, AlcheraBio, would open a [satellite office] in Kansas City, Kansas.
Argenta, which provides drug development services and contract product manufacturing for the animal health industry, will open a facility in the Bioscience and Technology Business Center at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kan., creating 27 jobs and investing $500,000 in laboratory equipment.
To help land Argenta, the Kansas Bioscience Authority will invest up to $400,000 over five years to support the establishment of Argenta’s Kansas operations.
“Argenta brings added credibility and prestige to the growing animal health industry cluster in our KC region,” said Bob Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, which recruits new business for the corridor.
To learn more about the Investment Forum and companies that presented this year, click here
June 2011: AlcheraBio Opens Satellite Office in Kansas City
In conjunction with parent company Argenta’s expansion into the Kansas City area, AlcheraBio has opened a satellite office in Kansas City’s Heartland House.
“A regional presence in this key area of the United States enables us to be even closer to major players in the animal health industry, many of whom are already our clients, “ explains AlcheraBio COO Dr. Johnny A. Jacobsen. “We’ll be able to manage and monitor clinical studies at sites across the US even more cost effectively, which will be particularly beneficial to our clients given the current economic situation.”
May 2011: AlcheraBio to Assist with IFAH Global Benchmarking Survey
AlcheraBio LLC is among the animal health consultancies selected to implement the 2011 Global Benchmarking Survey commissioned by IFAH, the International Federation for Animal Health. The survey is designed to gather information from IFAH organizations and member companies regarding effects of changes occurring in the animal health industry since the previous survey in 2006. BioBridge Ltd., located in the UK, will be coordinating and managing the survey, which involves five geographic regions. Dr. Jane Eagleson of AlcheraBio will be heading the project for the United States, and AlcheraBio will be handling the data management for all regions. To learn more about IFAH, click here
February 2011 -- AlcheraBio Parent Company, Argenta, Receives Additional GMP Certification and Passes GLP Audit
Argenta is approved to manufacture and ship products to more than 60 countries, and now Health Canada has been added to that list. The agency has indicated that Argenta is in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to fabricate, package, and test certain types of veterinary pharmaceuticals for the Canadian market. Argenta has also recently been certified by a key animal health company as a provider of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) services.
February 2011 -- Collaboration between Argenta Subsidiary AlcheraBio LLC and KLIFOVET AG Provides International Veterinary Contract Research Capability
Argenta and AlcheraBio Head of Clinical R&D Dr. Jane Eagleson, and CEO of KLIFOVET AG, Dr. Klaus Hellmann are pleased to announce a collaboration that will provide a unique service to their clients: global clinical studies conducted in both the US and Europe. KLIFOVET AG, established in 1997 and headquartered in Munich, Germany and AlcheraBio, established in 2001 and headquartered in Metuchen, NJ, USA are both leaders in their respective markets for the conduct of clinical efficacy studies and consulting on regulatory affairs of animal health and nutrition products, and have collaborated successfully previously. Both companies will remain independent and no changes to the ownership are planned.
Dr. Hellmann says: “Within the ‘one health – one medicine – one world’ initiative, globalization is even more key for successful animal health companies and their development projects. As innovative CROs we are always seeking for new opportunities to offer our customers the most up-to-date services requested. Global projects have become increasingly more popular in recent years as animal health companies look for options to develop products most efficiently. The collaboration between AlcheraBio and KLIFOVET has already proven very efficient and we will build on this expertise to the best of our clients. Remaining as independent businesses will also assure that both companies will remain fully grounded on their continents and develop to meet the needs of their clients and markets, thus adding value for their clients”.
KLIFOVET AG, awarded the Animal Pharm Award for the Best Supporting Role in 2006, has unique capabilities: their electronic data capture system StudyBase® specifically developed for Animal Health, GMP compliance for animal health clinical supplies, VICH GL9 (GCP) compliance for clinical studies, experienced staff and network being able to handle large multinational, multi-language studies and projects throughout Europe and sharing their know-how at the annual international “Clinical Studies Seminar” in Munich.
“AlcheraBio and Klifovet both have in-house, multidisciplinary clinical study teams that include experienced project development, project management, site training, site monitoring, data management, medical review, and quality assurance personnel,” notes AlcheraBio Chief Operating Officer Dr. Johnny A Jacobsen.
Dr. Jane Eagleson explains that “Klifovet and AlcheraBio are both industry-leading, full-service veterinary clinical contract research organizations and animal health consultancies with exceptional strengths, experience, and scope”. Notes Dr. Eagleson, “Each CRO has a highly trained, permanent staff and a network of established study sites. Globalization in the animal health industry has given AlcheraBio and Klifovet the opportunity to work together, and the two companies’ success has in turn led to this cooperative agreement. Services can be extended by the skills of Argenta, the New Zealand based parent company of AlcheraBio LLC, offering a full range of contract manufacturing services”.
To discuss potential multinational clinical studies or other international animal health-related projects, please contact Dr. Klaus Hellmann at KLIFOVET AG and Dr. Jane Eagleson or Dr. Johnny Jacobsen at AlcheraBio.
January 2011– click here for important news from AlcheraBio
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