As Neem Biotech opens its new purpose designed facility in South Wales, the company announced it is on track to launch its first clinical trial for a drug designed to help people with cystic fibrosis.
The Singaporean owned company specialises in extracting and manufacturing natural bioactive compounds for health applications. A polymolecular drug it developed in Wales based on compounds extracted from garlic to treat lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, is currently undergoing final toxicological tests to support the clinical trial in Germany.
MD Dr Michael Graz described it as an important trial medically that would also mark the transition of the company from a small contract research organisation to a pre-clinical research biotech company.
The £2m investment in equipment and new larger facilities on the Rose Heyworth Business Park, Abertillery, is supported by £225,000 business finance from the Welsh Government to create 17 new highly skilled jobs. Nine new jobs have already been created.
Carin Beumer and Thomas Hafner – founders and joint CEOs of Zaluvida Corporate – the parent company Matthias Miller, the Group’s Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr Joerg Gruenwald, a member of Neem’s Scientific Advisory Board, were present at the official opening by Economy Minister Edwina Hart.
The Minister said: “Life Science is one of our key economic sectors and the Welsh Government is developing the sector through supporting business growth, encouraging innovation and providing access to finance and expertise.
“I am delighted that Neem Biotech is expanding in Wales. Their move into larger purpose designed premises and the expansion of their team will open up a raft of new opportunities for the business to grow, develop innovative new products and continue their high level research and I wish them every success in the future.”
Dr Graz said: “These are exciting time for Neem Biotech. We have very ambitious plans for the future which could not have been undertaken in our former premises. Support and investment from our parent company and the Welsh Government has made this possible and I should also like to thank the wider life sciences community in Wales for their interest and support for our expansion plans.”
Staff will be recruited to drive the development of the pipeline projects, handle project management and clinical trial management tasks and include highly skilled staff in the fields of chemistry and life sciences, project managers, administrators and skilled manufacturing operators.