This week, SpeakPharma interviews four senior executives of LGM Pharma — Shailesh Vengurlekar (Senior VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs), Deepak Thassu (Senior VP, R&D and Regulatory Submission), Selwyn Lustman (Senior VP, Global Sourcing and Procurement), and Mike Stenberg (VP, Business Development). The four VPs talk about expansion in manufacturing capabilities of the Florida-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), expertise that makes LGM a strong partner and the criteria it adopts while selecting its suppliers.
HIGHLIGHTS// expansion in manufacturing capabilities/ expertise that makes LGM a strong partner/ criteria for selecting its suppliers
LGM Pharma recently invested heavily in expanding its CDMO capabilities by 50 percent. Can you share why offering standalone analytical testing services is important to LGM Pharma’s growth strategy? How does it benefit your clients?
Vengurlekar: This recent expansion in CDMO capabilities is part of LGM Pharma’s growth strategy that lays importance on diversification.
One key area of this diversification is the offering of
standalone Analytical Testing Services (ATS). This service plays a crucial role
in supporting our clients by providing them with greater flexibility and
reliability.
LGM Pharma is already a well-established leader in the API
supply chain. We have now identified a significant need in the market and are
now serving compounding pharmacies, including 503A and 503B facilities. These
pharmacies not only require high-quality, GMP-compliant APIs, but also need a
trusted, compliant, and capable laboratory to analyze both their APIs and
compounded products.
Recognizing this opportunity to further support our clients, LGM Pharma has expanded into ATS. We have witnessed tremendous growth since we’ve launched these services. By offering ATS under a separate legal entity — LGM Pharma Solutions — we are able to provide an additional layer of flexibility to our clients.
This structure eliminates any conflict of interest. While
LGM Pharma LLC handles API supply, LGM Pharma Solutions focuses on delivering
top-tier ATS, all under the same LGM Pharma umbrella. This setup enhances trust
and allows our clients to work with us more seamlessly.
HIGHLIGHTS// diversified into standalone ATS/ well-established leader in API supply chain/ serving compounding pharmacies/ offering APIs and ATS under different legal entities.
While suppositories offer clear advantages for certain medications, can you describe how LGM Pharma plans to leverage its expertise in this area to address specific unmet needs in the growing women’s health market?
Thassu: We’re taking a dual approach to enhance both our R&D and manufacturing capabilities. First, we’ve introduced a new semi-automatic machine that allows us to produce smaller batches more efficiently. This is particularly important for the suppository segment, where demand doesn’t require large-scale production. The new system enables quicker adjustments to the manufacturing process, providing us with greater flexibility of producing small batches.
Second, many of the materials we handle in the women’s health sector are sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen. To address this, we’re upgrading our facility to accommodate these specialized requirements. This ensures we can develop and manufacture products while maintaining the integrity of heat-, light-, and oxygen-sensitive ingredients.
Additionally, we’re working closely with clients to prepare for various technical challenges. Whether it’s processing homeopathic ingredients or handling delicate fermentation-based materials, which are highly sensitive to both light and heat, our team has upgraded its skills and equipment to manage these complexities.
From technology advancements in manufacturing to specialized handling conditions and improved technical expertise, we’ve made significant strides to ensure we can meet the evolving needs of our clients and their products.
HIGHLIGHTS// dual approach to enhance R&D and manufacturing capabilities/ upgrading facilities to accommodate specialized requirements/ working with clients to address challenges.
The
pandemic underscored supply chain problems. Can you detail the
specific criteria LGM Pharma uses while selecting suppliers for its
manufacturing processes?
Lustman: LGM looks
at many facets of a manufacturer before proceeding to approve them for a
specific project. We start by checking their regulatory history with the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other authorities. We try to find out if
they have received any warning letters. What is their inspection history? Have
they received NAIs (no action indicated) and VAIs (voluntary action indicated)?
We further investigate the company’s overall business status — we need to know that they are a stable partner to work with in the long term.
Manufacturers are then assessed for their overall technology and the number of employees working in various fields, such as R&D, quality control, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and the educational levels of these employees.
Once we have established that the manufacturer is a
potential partner, we check their status for a particular project. We look at
their advantages, and whether they have a non-infringing route of synthesis
(ROS) that will allow early launch. Are they developing a second process that
will be more competitive in pricing? And, does the manufacturer have the
necessary capacity and/or spare capacity for the project that we are assessing?
We need to know whether the drug master file (DMF) has been registered, the current batch size, and the potential for increase in batch size. Pricing is a key indicator — we need to know whether the pricing of the manufacturer is competitive or not, and if the manufacturer will be able to compete in the future as the project matures.
LGM always assesses for quality, price, and delivery. Goods
must be of the correct quality, at the right price, with delivery time as
desired, in order to meet commercial needs.
HIGHLIGHTS// investigate various facets of manufacturer before approving them for a project/ look at advantages, non-infringing ROS/ assess for quality, price, delivery
Can you highlight specific capabilities and experiences LGM Pharma possesses that make it a strong partner for companies developing antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs)?
Stenberg: ADCs are often peptides linked with small molecules. However, they may also be peptides linked with oligonucleotides. Regardless, LGM can help manage the supply chain associated with the components that are used in the conjugation of the ADC.
LGM has extensive experience, and an extensive network around sourcing and managing the supply chain associated with ADC components. LGM’s experience and capabilities extend to sourcing peptides, small molecules or oligonucleotides used in the conjugation process.
Additionally, given our deep relationships in the supply chain aspect of this process, LGM may also be able to identify partners who can help with the conjugation process itself.
HIGHLIGHTS// extensive experience, network around sourcing, managing supply chain associated with ADC components / identify partners that can help with conjugation process
Every year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes the user fee amounts it will collect from manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, biosimilars and medical devices in the coming financial year. The fee for fiscal year 2025 under the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) was published on July 31, 2024.The GDUFA, established in 2012, authorizes FDA to assess
and collect fees from drug manufacturers to expedite the delivery of safe,
high-quality, and affordable generic drugs to the American public.The FDA’s facility payments list under GDUFA reveals that as
of November 14, 2024, 1,397 facilities had paid their registration fees for
financial year 2025. Of these facilities, 707 or 50.6 percent are active
pharmaceutical ingredients (API) facilities, 405 or 29 percent are finished dosage
forms (FDF) facilities, 69 (4.9 percent) are facilities that produce both APIs
and FDFs, and 216 (15.5 percent) are contract manufacturing services (CMO)
sites.Teva Pharmaceuticals, with 29 facility registrations, led the list of companies, followed by Aurobindo Pharma, Sun Pharma, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
Fiscal year
Facility Registrations
2016
1,425
2017
1,442
2018
1,269
2019
1,286
2020
1,300
2021
1,340
2022
1,385
2023
1,394
2024
1,447
2025
1,397
Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available)India continues to lead with
396 facilities, US and China follow India maintains its dominance in total facility registrations with the FDA, registering 396 facilities for FY2025. This includes 214 API facilities, 135 FDF facilities, 21 facilities engaged in both API and FDF activities, and 26 CMO facilities.The United States holds the second position with 328 facilities,
while China strengthened its third position with 197 facilities.With 214 API facilities, India continues to have the largest share
of API manufacturing sites, outmatching the combined total of China (128) and
the US (83), which together account for 211 facilities. Among European
manufacturers, Italy leads with 59 API manufacturing sites, followed by Spain
(30) and Germany (25).The US has maintained its lead in FDF facilities with 143 sites,
followed closely by India with 135 sites and China with 45 sites.
Country
API
FDF
Both
CMO
Total
India
214
135
21
26
396
US
83
143
13
89
328
China
128
45
12
12
197
Italy
59
3
2
19
83
Germany
25
4
1
15
45
Spain
30
9
1
4
44
Canada
7
17
13
37
Taiwan
9
6
5
4
24
Switzerland
15
4
4
23
France
16
6
22
Japan
18
1
19
United
Kingdom
12
1
2
15
Mexico
9
1
1
11
Ireland
5
5
1
11
Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) GDUFA III user fee rates
increase across categories for FY25The GDUFA, which was reauthorized on September 30, 2022 (as GDUFA
III), continues with provisions that will last until September 30, 2027. In
July 2024, the FDA published updated user fee rates for FY2025.The facility fees have seen increases across all categories. API
facility fees increased by 3 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 41,580) and 2
percent for foreign sites (to US$ 56,580). FDF facility fees rose by 5 percent
for both domestic (to US$ 231,952) and foreign sites (to US$ 246,952). CMO
facility fees increased by 5 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 55,668) and 4
percent for foreign sites (to US$ 70,668).Additionally, the fee for large-, medium- and small-sized drug
applicants has increased by over 9 percent, compared to the 7 percent increase
seen in 2023. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) China leads new facility
registrations as FDA records 41 new units in FY25Out of the total 1,397 facilities registered for FY2025, 41 were
new registrations (going
by Facility FDA Establishment Identifier numbers).
China led the way with 13 new facilities, followed closely by India with 11 new
facilities, while the US secured the third position with eight new facilities.The new registrations included 15 API facilities, 13 CMO facilities, 12 FDF facilities, and one facility engaged in both API and FDF activities. Chinese companies dominated the new FDF registrations with six
facilities: Chengdu Shuode Pharma, Chengdu Suncadia Medicine, Cipla (Jiangsu), GE Healthcare (Shanghai), Luoxin Aurovitas
Pharma (Chengdu), and Zhejiang Xianju Pharma.India added two new FDF facilities through Eugia Steriles and Zydus Pharma. Malaysia registered two FDF
facilities through Novugen Pharma and Novugen Oncology, while Turkey’s Insud Pharma subsidiary Exeltis and US’ RK Pharma registered one FDF facility
each.The 13 new CMO facilities included, Acme Generics, Emcure, Esjay Pharma, Fordoz Pharma, Fourrts Laboratories, Laboratoires KABS, PharmaMax, Quality Packaging
Specialists International, Ritsa Pharma, Shanghai Aucyun Pharma, Sichuan Huiyu Pharma, Taejoon Pharm, and Tubilux Pharma.In the API category, the 15 new registrations included Acharya Chemicals, Hainan Poly Pharma, CBL Patras, EUROAPI, Hybio Pharma, Medilux Laboratories, Metrochem API, Purolite, Chengdu Easton Biopharma, Sionc Pharma, Smithfield Bioscience, Xttrium Laboratories, Zhejiang Hengkang Pharma, Moehs Iberica and Shilpa Pharma. Armstrong Pharmaceuticals registered the sole facility
for both APIs and FDFs.So far, 92 facilities have not renewed their registration. Among
these was a facility owned by Sandoz subsidiary Eon Labs in Wilson, North Carolina
(US), which is permanently closed. In fact, the geographical distribution of
non-renewals shows that 30 facilities were from the US, while India and China
accounted for 14 and nine non-renewals respectively. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) Our viewThe FY 2025 GDUFA facility registration data indicates a continued
strong presence of Indian manufacturers in the US generic drug market,
particularly in API production. However, China's leadership in new facility
registrations, especially in FDF manufacturing, suggests that the global
generic drug supply chain landscape may evolve considerably in the coming
years.
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