A Glimmer In Madrid

Abstract

Fine chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) executives attending the CPhI Worldwide exhibition in Madrid earlier this month said business has turned the corner following a downturn that coincided with the financial collapse of 2008. The uptick that began in 2010 at some companies, and last year at others, has carried through 2012, and most managers are looking to continued growth next year. But in an industry heavily influenced by the vagaries of science and the fortunes of customers’ drug development pipelines, it is not surprising that stories of the rebound varied. Many executives claimed that pharmaceutical business is strengthening as drug companies increase outsourcing and bring it back from Asia to Europe and the U.S. Several companies said they are pushing to grow their nonpharmaceutical fine chemicals businesses. Others acknowledged they are still waiting for a sustained increase in business. According to a survey released by UBM, the organizer ...