Meet Argenta
Argenta is a New Zealand-based international formulations R&D and manufacturing company. The company was formed in 2006 by Doug Cleverly, PhD, through the acquisition of Nufarm Health and Sciences, which manufactured animal health pharmaceuticals; and Chemlabs, an animal health research and development company. Argenta is known for its innovative formulations R&D as well as its manufacturing capabilities, which range from production of clinical trial material through commercial scale manufacturing and export. The acquisition of AlcheraBio has been an important step in Argenta’s U.S. expansion.
Click here for an interview with Dr. Doug Cleverly, founder and CEO of Argenta
Click here for Argenta’s capabilities overview
Click here for a recent article about Argenta in BIOACTIVE, the journal of the NZBIO organization
Click here to visit the Argenta website www.argenta.co.nz.
Argenta Q&A
What does Argenta do?
Argenta is a formulations R&D and manufacturing company that is well known in the animal health sector. As many people in the animal health industry know only too well, it is extremely difficult to find veterinary-drug-related formulations expertise, methods development, small-scale manufacturing and commercial-scale manufacturing in one place. Argenta solves that problem.
Argenta is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) formed in 2006. The company offers preformulation, formulation, and analytical development services including all activities required for the drug product component for the FDA/EMEA Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls technical section. In addition, Argenta manufactures clinical trial material and commercial products to cGMP.
Argenta now exports to more than 60 countries including the US and European nations. For additional information about Argenta’s services, visit Argenta’s website at www.argenta.co.nz or contact Dr. Jane Eagleson, Argenta head of client services and AlcheraBio president at: 011 64 9 250 3192 (office) jane.eagleson@argenta.co.nz.
What Is a CDMO?
CDMOs are companies that provide comprehensive, “one-stop shopping” from drug development through commercial-scale manufacturing.
What are the benefits of the acquisition to AlcheraBio’s clients and potential clients?
Many of AlcheraBio’s clients have projects with which Argenta can offer valuable assistance, for example, in pre-formulation and formulation development, analytical methods development, manufacture of clinical trial material, and commercial-scale manufacturing. AlcheraBio and Argenta worked together prior to the acquisition to create integrated development and regulatory plans on behalf of mutual clients. This allowed the two companies to see their synergies and, ultimately, to join forces to provide regulatory affairs, formulations, clinical studies, and manufacturing “one-stop shopping” for our clients.
How have the management and operations of AlcheraBio changed?
Argenta has chosen to maintain AlcheraBio as a separate entity. Our name, location, and staffing have not changed. In fact, we’ve grown. Dr. Johnny Jacobsen has joined AlcheraBio as chief operating officer, and we now have in-house, customized data management services, including SAS programming. These services are overseen by Alexander Greenberg, another new addition to our staff. Dr. Jane Eagleson, Argenta’s head of client services and AlcheraBio’s president, serves as liaison between the two companies.
Cofounders Dr. Linda Rhodes and Katherine Moldave remain with AlcheraBio, as vice president – clinical development and vice president – market support, respectively.
What has changed about AlcheraBio is the rate at which AlcheraBio will be able to grow and the expanded range of services AlcheraBio can now offer its clients.
Who are the key people at Argenta?
Argenta was founded and is headed by Dr. Doug Cleverly, a formulations chemist with significant experience in animal health. He formed Argenta in 2006 through the acquisition of the animal health operations of Nufarm Health and Sciences, and Chemlabs, an animal health research and development company. Dr. Cleverly is Argenta’s founder and chief executive officer. His management team includes Glenn Boyes, financial controller; Gary Harrison, head of operations; and Dr. Jane Eagleson, a veterinarian who has worked for Merck AgVet, Merial, and Pfizer Animal Health. As noted above, Dr. Eagleson is Argenta’s head of client services and also serves as AlcheraBio president.