September 1, 2015 (Vol. 35, No. 15)

“Novo Nordisk Pharmatech” to Serve as Supplier to the Pharma and Biopharma Industries

Denmark-based FeF Chemicals was first established in 1949, acquired by Novo Industries in 1986, and has been part of the Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical group since its creation in 1989. This month FeF Chemicals is changing its name to Novo Nordisk Pharmatech.

GEN recently spoke to the company’s managing director, Rasmus Hother le Fevre, to find out more about Novo Nordisk Pharmatech and its commercial focus.


Rasmus Hother le Fevre

GEN: Why the name change and what does it represent?

Rasmus Hother le Fevre: The new name reflects the connection to our parent company and, at the same time, illustrates our business focus on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical customers. FeF Chemicals has over the last decade discontinued all non-pharma products to become a fully fledged pharmaceutical company. It was a natural move to adopt Novo Nordisk as part of the name as this enhances the company’s brand recognition for insulin and cell culture.

The name may be new, but we are proud of our history and culture. The high-quality service and mindset will remain. Like Novo Nordisk, we will continue to focus on financial, social, and environmental responsibility, which we have always held in the highest regard.

GEN: What mandate have you received from Novo Nordisk’s management?

Rasmus Hother le Fevre: Novo Nordisk Pharmatech will commercialize technologies for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, which is seen in the addition of “Pharmatech” to the name. The company has a number of technologies, ranging from cell culture to protein modification, purification, and preservation, which are made available for use by pharma and biopharma companies.

The company also will continue to supply human insulin for use in cell culture media manufactured by Novo Nordisk. In addition, we will maintain our ability to offer quaternary ammonium compounds, which have excellent antimicrobial and surface-active properties, over a wide range of applications. They are active against the most common microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and algae. They are widely used in pharmaceuticals as the active ingredient or as an excipient because of their preservation properties.

Novo Nordisk Pharmatech is not walking away from its long history. Nor will the change alter the products we offer, as I have just indicated. Novo Nordisk Pharmatech will still manufacture products going from ingredients for cell culture to providing the technologies supporting protein modification, purification, and preservation that I mentioned earlier.

Reliability and consistency are key components for these products. The company understands the importance of consistency in the pharmaceutical business and is keen to maintain such high standards as it has done throughout its history. 

GEN: What benefits will your new “enterprise resource planning system” provide for your business?

Rasmus Hother le Fevre: First and foremost, it will enable the company to offer better service to its customers. Secondly, it will benefit the interaction between Novo Nordisk Pharmatech and its parent company and create more transparency in key business processes. Finally, it’s a good platform for the future growth of the company.

GEN: What do you view as your competitive advantage in an extremely global marketplace?

Rasmus Hother le Fevre: The parent company of Novo Nordisk Pharmatech is our largest customer and as such sets high standards for our products. These standards as well as the long track record of our high-performing products provide a  strong platform in a global marketplace. Novo Nordisk Pharmatech has been active in the market for many years, and we expect to remain. 

Rasmus Hother le Fevre ([email protected]), is managing director at Novo Nordisk Pharmatech.

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