Alcon awards plant contract to Biokinetics

Alcon Laboratories has awarded the contract for the concept and basic design of its new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant to Biokinetics, a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler.

Biokinetics was established in 1996, acquired by Foster Wheeler earlier this year and is a leading process systems designer for the biopharmacuetical industry.

The firm has won the contract to provide architectural and engineering services for its new 250,000 square foot manufacturing plant.

It will be situated in the Tuas Biomedical Park located in Singapore.

The plant will be used in the production of opthalmic pharmaceuticals which will be distributed throughout Asia.

Financial details of the contract with Foster Wheeler were not disclosed.

Bill Brydges, president of Biokinetics, said: “This exciting opportunity highlights yet another step in our growing relationship with Alcon.

“Alcon’s vote of confidence is a clear demonstration of the sound value proposition we offered.”

He added the combination of its own relationship with Alcon together with the track record of Foster Wheeler in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical projects and its own ability to execute the basic design phases in the UK is a winning one.

Last month, Alcon announced a 17.9 per cent rise in sales for the second quarter of the 2008 fiscal year, with the company generated revenues of $1,735.2 million (869.3 million pounds).