Here at Seqens NA we’re used to handling complex projects involving small molecules and producing New Chemical Entities (NCEs), Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and a host of other chemicals to address some of the world’s worst diseases. So, when the call came to produce hydroalcoholic solutions – also known as hand sanitizer – to help prevent COVID-19 transfer, it was a no-brainer.
Just as it’s been impossible for consumers to get hand sanitizer in stores, so too have commercial businesses been challenged with getting supplies for their employees. Yet, having hand-sanitizing stations or individual bottles to provide to staff is needed in order to get workers safely back to the office. Because of supply chain challenges and a shortage of the raw material Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), all forms of hand sanitizers have been in short supply.
Global Operations Mean Seamless Support
Seqens was more than happy to help address this challenge. As a robust Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), we regularly offer up to 20,000 gallons of manufacturing capacity if needed, but in this case, we were tasked with producing 2,000 kg of hydroalcoholic solution.
The project came about through our parent company, Seqens CDMO in France, which has been working aggressively to produce hydroalcoholic solutions for business clients for use by their employees in offices, plants and other sites. When a European client with U.S. operations inquired about U.S. manufacturing capabilities, Seqens was able to refer them to us here in Newburyport. This is a good example of the distinct advantage we’re able to offer our global customers – world-class manufacturing operations around the world, through one CDMO.
In order to develop the product, we followed the chemical formula recommended for hand antisepsis against coronavirus, by the World Health Organization (WHO). We assigned a few staff members to the project and completed the project in one day.
Good Corporate Citizen
In fact, we created additional batches so that we could donate to the fire and police departments in Newburyport, Mass, where we’re headquartered, as well as Stoneham, Mass., where a number of our employees live. We did this as a sign of our appreciation to first responders for putting themselves in harm’s way for our safety. We’re also providing hand sanitizer in our offices and to our employees and their families for their personal use.
While the project we just completed met a very dire need for a specific global business, we’re open for business when it comes to doing our part to ensure the safety of workers and people everywhere through proper hand sanitizing. As this COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, things can change in a moment, and even when we have state-of-the-art equipment, tools and technologies at our disposal, sometimes the basic necessities can have the biggest impact.
Have any questions about Seqens NA? Please contact us at (978) 462-5555. We’d love to put our expertise to work for you.