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About
Bionpharma, which began in late 2014, is a pharmaceutical company backed and built by seasoned professionals in the Global Generics business with cumulative experience of more than 100 years. Based out of Princeton, New Jersey and with offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, Bionpharma is licensed to do business in all the US states and is accomplished in the areas of Product Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality management, Sa...
Bionpharma, which began in late 2014, is a pharmaceutical company backed and built by seasoned professionals in the Global Generics business with cumulative experience of more than 100 years. Based out of Princeton, New Jersey and with offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, Bionpharma is licensed to do business in all the US states and is accomplished in the areas of Product Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality management, Sales and Distribution and Supply Chain management.
This week, SpeakPharma interviews Pete Werth III, the new president of ChemWerth, a company that has been at the forefront of the generic pharmaceutical industry for over four decades.
He shares his vision for ChemWerth, which includes his commitment to strengthening global manufacturing relationships, and enhancing supply chain resilience. Additionally, he highlights the key aspects of a successful drug master file (DMF).
HIGHLIGHTS// Pete Werth III, the new president of ChemWerth/ vision for ChemWerth/ commitment to strengthening global manufacturing relationships/ key aspects of a successful drug master file
Your father,
Peter J. Werth, is recognized as one of the founders of the generic
pharmaceutical industry, having built ChemWerth from the ground up over four
decades ago. How do you view his legacy? As you take the helm, what key lessons
or principles from his leadership do you intend to carry forward?
My father, Peter J. Werth, is a true pioneer in the generic pharmaceutical industry. Over his 42‐year tenure, he not only built ChemWerth from a humble garage startup into a global leader in generic API development but also established standards that many in our industry now take for granted. Under his leadership, we filed our very first DMF in 1987 and have since achieved more than 500 DMF filings. With an average review cycle of just 0.79, we have been far outperforming the industry average of 2.5 cycles.
His focus on quality, regulatory excellence, and a relentless commitment to customers’ success set the foundation for our reputation as a trusted supplier of over 500 APIs sourced from more than 30 cGMP-certified facilities worldwide. Equally inspiring is his dedication to nurture long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with manufacturing partners across the US, Europe, India, and China, as well as his passion for giving back to the community through philanthropic initiatives.
As I take the helm, I intend to build on his guiding principles — sustaining our high standards of quality and compliance while pursuing innovation in regulatory strategy, diversifying our supply chain, and embracing new technologies and approaches to remain competitive in an evolving market.
I will also strive to continue his legacy of
mentorship, ensuring that our company culture remains rooted in integrity and
diligence, with an unyielding focus on making safe, affordable medicines
available worldwide.
HIGHLIGHTS// trusted supplier of over 500 APIs/ 30 cGMP-certified facilities worldwide/ embracing new technologies and approaches to remain competitive
What are your top
priorities as the new president of ChemWerth? How do you plan to strengthen and
expand relationships with manufacturers worldwide?
My immediate priorities as the new president are
twofold: to enhance the value we deliver to our customers and, to deepen our
relationships with our manufacturing partners worldwide.
We will further diversify our supply chain and
broaden our product portfolio. Our expansion plans include upgrading equipment,
and hiring additional highly skilled scientists, engineers, and GMP auditors.
We will also leverage our proprietary product
selection and regulatory submission processes. These processes help us get the
regulatory filing right the first time, and allows us to be approved 44 percent
faster than the industry average. This helps our customers gain a competitive
edge in the market.
In essence, by strengthening operational excellence and expanding our global network, we intend to continue the company’s long-standing commitment to customer success and process innovation.
We plan to reinforce our long-standing relationships with our manufacturers — especially those in strategic markets like China and India — by helping our partners meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) quality. This balanced approach of strengthening existing partnerships while pioneering new ones is key to maintaining and growing our competitive edge.
HIGHLIGHTS// diversify our supply chain and broaden our product portfolio/ commitment to customer success and process innovation/ filings approved 44 percent faster than the industry average
When ChemWerth
last spoke to PharmaCompass, there
was a mention of investing millions of dollars in expanding manufacturing partnerships in China and India. Can you elaborate on the success of these partnerships, and how have they contributed to ChemWerth’s overall growth?
Our strategic, multimillion-dollar investments in manufacturing partnerships are a cornerstone of our growth strategy. Over the past few years, these joint ventures have proven their worth by diversifying our supply base and mitigating the risk of global supply chain disruptions — a lesson that became all too clear during the Covid-19 pandemic.
These investments are already paying dividends.
They help us support manufacturers producing steroids, hormones, veterinary
products, and large-volume APIs, while also accelerating the development of
small-molecule inhibitors and new generic APIs.
We have ensured that our partners are equipped
with the latest equipment and trained personnel to meet cGMP standards. By
partnering with facilities in these markets, we now have access to
state-of-the-art production capabilities that enable us to produce a wider
range of APIs at competitive costs.
The success of these partnerships is evident in our ability to consistently file DMFs rapidly — often on the first cycle — and deliver affordable, high-quality medicines to patients worldwide. This supports our clients’ growth trajectory and has helped us expand into new markets.
This strategy has reinforced our global footprint — supporting our presence in 38 countries with over 100 products — and positioned us well to capitalize on a global generic drug market projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.4 percent from 2022 to 2030, to reach a size of US$ 671 billion by 2030.
HIGHLIGHTS// strategic multimillion-dollar investments/ support manufacturers producing steroid, hormone, veterinary products/ development of small-molecule inhibitors and new generic APIs/ ensured partners are equipped with the latest equipment and trained personnel
ChemWerth has an impressive track record, and an over 40-year relationship with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What are the key aspects of a successful DMF? Are there specific challenges manufacturers face in preparing DMFs, and how does ChemWerth help them overcome these hurdles?
ChemWerth’s record of filing over 500 DMFs in 38 countries reflects our commitment to excellence in regulatory compliance and quality management. A successful DMF is built on comprehensive documentation that rigorously follows cGMP guidelines, robust analytical validation, and detailed tracking of every step.
Every DMF we file meticulously details the entire manufacturing process — from raw material acquisition to final batch production. This comprehensive approach ensures that our submissions meet the rigorous quality, safety, and efficacy standards expected by the FDA.
Our team stays continuously updated on the
evolving guidelines and protocols, which allows us to file DMFs that align with
current FDA practices. We recognize that many manufacturers face challenges
such as complex regulatory requirements, lengthy review cycles, and the need
for precise coordination between various production stages. ChemWerth helps
them overcome these hurdles by offering end-to-end regulatory support, detailed
internal audits, and continuous training on cGMP and FDA requirements.
Our efficiency is a critical competitive
advantage. By receiving approvals 44 percent
faster than the industry average, we help our customers get their products to
market faster, resulting in larger market share and increased profits.
HIGHLIGHTS// over 500 DMFs in 38 countries/ robust analytical validation/ end-to-end regulatory support
What is your
vision for ChemWerth over the next few years? How do you plan to navigate the
challenges and opportunities in the generic pharmaceutical industry?
I plan to continue to add value for our customers, and look for innovative ways to compete in today’s generic pharmaceutical landscape.
At ChemWerth, our vision for the future is rooted
in both our proud legacy and our relentless drive for innovation. We will
further diversify our supply chain and expand our product portfolio. We have
begun leveraging our expertise to supply APIs for biosimilars and new drug
applications (NDAs), while maintaining our reputation for rapid regulatory
approvals.
With unwavering determination, we uphold our “First to Quality. Fast to Market.” approach — delivering high-quality APIs to customers worldwide while leveraging our expertise to give them a competitive edge in their markets.
HIGHLIGHTS// supply APIs for biosimilars and NDAs/ give customers a competitive edge in their markets
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging
as a transformative force in drug discovery and development. The global AI in
drug discovery market was valued at US$ 1.99 billion in 2024 and is estimated to
reach US$ 2.65 billion in 2025. Going forward, the market is expected to grow
at an impressive compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.6 percent, to reach
a market size of US$ 35.42 billion by 2034, says a report by Polaris Market
Research.
This growth expectation mirrors the eagerness within the biopharma industry to leverage AI in order to overcome the traditional barriers of lengthy timelines, exorbitant costs, and high failure rates. This eagerness is also being manifested in deal making — Big Pharma has been busy forging alliances with AI-driven drug discovery companies. Over the last two years, almost every big drugmaker, including Novo Nordisk, Merck, BMS, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Novartis and Sanofi, has signed deals with various AI drug
discovery companies.
PharmaCompass' compilation shows there are scores of molecules discovered by AI currently in discovery and developmental phases, demonstrating the technology's growing impact on pharmaceutical pipelines.
Access the Dashboard on AI-Discovered Drug Candidates (Free Excel Available)
Novo, Lilly, BMS invest in AI partnerships; Recursion, Exscientia merge
to create AI powerhouse
With the transformative potential of AI
becoming increasingly evident, we witnessed a slew of deals in the biopharma
industry over the last six months. A significant deal in the AI drug discovery space was the merger of two leaders — Recursion and Exscientia — that took place in November last year. Exscientia is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Recursion.
The merger has created a global technology-enabled drug
discovery leader with end-to-end capabilities. The merged entity has over 10 clinical and preclinical programs, and around 10 advanced discovery programs in the pipeline.
Apart
from this merger, several large drugmakers have struck deals with AI drug
discovery firms since September last year. For instance, in January this year, Valo Health and Novo Nordisk expanded their collaboration to discover and develop
novel treatments for cardiometabolic diseases. This deal, valued at up to US$ 4.8 billion, aims to harness the power of AI and extensive
human datasets. Building on their initial 2023 partnership, it will enable the
development of up to 20 drug programs.
Similarly, Pfizer, which is already big on AI, extended its AI drug discovery pact with PostEra and also partnered IgnitionAI to enhance drug discovery — all within the last six months. And Novartis struck a
drug discovery deal with Generate BioMedicines in September.
Insilico Medicine has been actively forging partnerships. In January,
Insilico entered a second exclusive global license agreement with Menarini Group for an AI-discovered preclinical asset
targeting high unmet needs in oncology. Insilico also has a tie-up with Sanofi, dating back to 2022.
In December 2024, AI Proteins announced a
research collaboration and option agreement
with BMS to design and optimize mini-proteins for
therapeutic use. And in September, Eli Lilly joined hands with Genetic Leap to accelerate the development of genetic medicines. Lilly will leverage Genetic Leap’s RNA-targeted AI platform to generate oligonucleotide drugs against selected targets.
Access the Dashboard on AI-Discovered Drug Candidates (Free Excel Available)
AI leads to faster target identification; Insilico, BenevolentAI’s candidates in trials
Computational biology, and especially AI,
has fundamentally changed the drug discovery paradigm. The traditional method
of drug discovery used to take 13 to 15 years, costing an average of US$ 2.5 billion in investment before a drug
got approved and launched in the market. Additionally, less than 10 percent of candidates in phase 1
clinical trials used to end up getting approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). All that has begun to change.
According to Khair ElZarrad, Director of the Office of Medical Policy within FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, since 2016, FDA has received approximately 300 submissions that reference AI use as
of May
2024. These submissions range from drug development,
drug discovery, clinical research, clinical trials as well as post-market
safety surveillance and manufacturing.
Though we are yet to witness an
AI-generated candidate translate into an approved therapy, target
identification in drug discovery is visibly becoming a lot faster. This is the
process that identifies specific molecules or pathways in the human body that
are linked to a disease.
The best example of dramatic acceleration of timelines is Insilico Medicine’s development of INS018_055, a candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that entered phase 2 trials in June 2023. Using their AI platform PandaOmics, researchers at
Insilico compressed target identification from years to just 18 months.
Similarly, BenevolentAI successfully employed their AI platform to identify a new
target for ulcerative colitis, leading to the development of BEN-8744, a
candidate that has been in phase 1a clinical trials since August 2023.
Access the Dashboard on AI-Discovered Drug Candidates (Free Excel Available)
Oncology leads AI drug discovery market; Recursion shows how to
repurpose drugs using AI
The integration of AI in oncology
research has been impactful, accounting for the largest revenue share (about 22.4 percent) in the AI drug discovery market in 2023. AI technologies have accelerated the discovery and development of new cancer treatments, bolstered personalized medicine approaches, and improved clinical trial designs in the arena of this complex disease.
Another promising application is drug
repurposing, where AI can identify new therapeutic applications for existing
drugs. Recursion Pharmaceuticals’ REC-2282 exemplifies this approach. This therapy is currently in phase 2/3 studies for neurofibromatosis type 2
(a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along nerves). By repurposing
compounds already vetted for safety, this strategy can bypass early-stage
failures, reducing both time and cost compared to developing entirely new
molecules.
However, the use of AI in drug discovery
is not without challenges. Exscientia’s EXS-21546, designed to treat solid
tumors, entered phase 1/2 trials in 2020 but was discontinued in 2023 after modeling suggested that achieving a suitable therapeutic index would be difficult. Though this is a clinical failure, it highlights AI’s value in identifying potential failures earlier on in the development process, saving resources that would have otherwise been spent on later-stage trials.
Access the Dashboard on AI-Discovered Drug Candidates (Free Excel Available)
Our view
The Covid-19 pandemic was a time when humanity felt the urgent need to
speed up the process of drug discovery, testing and approvals. It also hastened
the process of integrating AI into pharmaceutical research, leading to the launch of Covid vaccines in record time. Today, there is no looking back — AI is bringing about a paradigm shift in how drugs are discovered. With increasing reliance on AI, there is hope that drug discovery will be more accurate, efficient and less time and cost consuming.