Roowin transfers its operations

A milestone development for French CRO Roowin SA, has seen the company relocate operations to larger premises near Clermont-Ferrand, in the Auvergne region. The move will strengthen its position as one of the few companies in France offering services from early-stage research to the production of GMP batches for phase I and II clinical trials.

The 1500m2 premises at Riom-La Varenne, currently owned by Schering-Plough, provided GLP/GMP compliant laboratories, offices, warehousing and equipment enabling an immediate increase in batch quantities, including an LC/NMR 500 MHz machine for rapid and accurate screening; the company is also equipped with UPLC/MS, IR and GC/MS technology. In the area of synthesis, Roowin can now undertake low-temperature work as the result of acquiring a liquid nitrogen unit operating at minus 80C.

The move is being welcomed by local authorities. “Keeping industrial activities going at the Schering-Plough site in La Varenne is a priority for Riom town council, the regional development office of the department of Puy de Dome, the Clermont-Ferrand Community, and the Community of District Councils of Limagne-D’Ennezat, one of the founder members of the future joint Biopole Clermont Limagne association,” explained Herve Prevoteau, director of the Clermont Limagne biocluster. “Roowin is a large independent firm in the fine chemistry sector, and we are going to help it grow still further to our mutual benefit in terms of job and wealth creation. It will find its full place in the pharmaceutical industry of the Auvergne region.”

“It was hard to find a place that corresponded to all our technical needs,” said Patrice Rool, the chairman of Roowin. “That is why we are delighted to be moving to Riom, which offers all the advantages we were looking for. We are planning to develop our activities further and in particular to invest in additional clean rooms.”

The company is to maintain its sales office in Paris.