Our new energised Argenta brand and the “One Brand, One Vision” campaign emphasises Argenta’s long-term commitment to advancing world-class treatments, therapies and nutrition for healthier and happier animals by delivering trusted, innovative ‘molecule to market’ solutions.
A global contract research, development and manufacturing organisation (CRO/CDMO) devoted to animal health and nutrition, Argenta, expanded its service area and region by acquiring brands such as Klifovet, Pen & Tec Consulting and Ondax Scientific. After this expansion, the company, which combined all of its brands under the Argenta brand with the “One Brand, One Vision” concept, can now offer support to its customers according to regulations varying across the globe.
The company’s CEO, Will Downie, summarizes the aim of the “One Brand, One Vision” concept with these words: “We aim to become an unmatched ally in the animal health industry with seamless partnering right across the product development cycle – from ‘molecule to market’.”
Downie explains the details of Argenta’s services to the animal health and nutrition sector and the advantages of the rebranding process for the readers of our magazine.
Mr. Downie, firstly, could you please give us some information about Argenta? Who is Argenta and what does it do?
Argenta is a global animal health services company, supporting companies big and small to develop and manufacture products that contribute to the health and wellbeing of pets and farm animals. The company was founded in New Zealand 2006, and since then we have been the only combined global contract research, development and manufacturing organisation (CRO/CDMO) dedicated to animal health and nutrition. We expanded over the years and now have locations in New Zealand, the US, and Europe.
Argenta provides ‘molecule to market’ services and solutions that cover every stage of product development. From pharmaceutical development to novel drug delivery technologies, pre-clinical and clinical services, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing. Animal health companies can come to us for comprehensive product development support from start to finish or for dedicated input where we can add most value. No matter the size of our client’s company or what stage of product development they are in, we are equipped to help. Our 650+ colleagues are driven by our partnership approach and purpose: Healthy Animals. Let’s Make It Happen, Together.
You recently announced your new structuring and your renewed brand identity with the “One Brand, One Vision” campaign, which included the rebranding of acquired companies. Could you please share the reasons and goals of the acquisitions?
By acquiring the businesses that have joined the Argenta brand, we have an expanded global presence, strengthened capabilities, and an increased depth of expertise. As a result, customers can look forward to more tailored support based on their specific needs. With regulations varying across the globe, these acquisitions also enable Argenta to support customers on regulatory submissions to the FDA, EMA, and EFSA, with the potential to optimise their studies for use in multiple submissions.
The acquisition of Pen & Tec Consulting, Ondax Scientific and Klifovet in the past years is in line with Argenta’s growth strategy and allows us to not only improve the services to our clients but also to do more to support the development and commercialisation of new products that benefit animals worldwide.
As Argenta, you made a number of acquisitions, including Klifovet, Pen & Tec Consulting and Ondax Scientific. These brands continue to operate under the name Argenta. What does this process mean for the previous customers of these brands? What will you be offering them that is different from the past?
The most important factor in combining our businesses under one brand is to provide clarity and to emphasise Argenta’s offering of broader, more cohesive services and solutions. We aim to become an unmatched ally in the animal health industry with seamless partnering right across the product development cycle – from ‘molecule to market’. This approach eliminates transfer issues between different organisations and gives animal health companies a smoother and more effective experience. Wherever our customers are in the world, we aim to make it simpler to do business with Argenta and to provide them with peace of mind, whether that’s through research, development, or manufacturing.
Importantly, there will be no changes to legal entities or who customers do business with. As a CRO/CDMO, Argenta highly values its established relationships and working in partnership with clients.
We know that you provide support to companies in the development and production of products that contribute to the health and welfare of pets and farm animals. What is the scope/content of this support? For which services and why do companies need you?
Companies can come to us for comprehensive product development support from start to finish or for dedicated input where we can add most value. Argenta can now provide deep knowledge and experience across all the following areas:
• Pharmaceutical sciences: Designing and optimising the composition, stability, and delivery mechanisms of drugs to ensure efficacy, safety, and compliance.
• Novel Drug Delivery Technologies: Bringing innovative thinking to drug development programs using licensable novel delivery technologies.
• Pre-clinical services (including in the USA through Midwest Veterinary Services (MVS)): Assessing the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of a veterinary medicinal product, animal feed, or device before it is tested in a veterinary clinical trial.
• Clinical research: Delivering superior science and the highest quality data through well-managed clinical studies and innovative solutions.
• Regulatory affairs: Maximising the product development process and reducing time to market with expertise in navigating the complexity of regulatory requirements on a global level (e.g., EMA, FDA, and EFSA).
• Manufacturing: Commercialising at scale in three EMA/FDA-approved GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities.
• Consultancy: Strategically advising companies wherever they are in their development process to help them overcome their toughest challenges.
What can you tell us about your future plans and goals regarding the animal nutrition and health sectors?
We will continue to build on–and improve–our current capabilities and listen to our customers’ and market needs to identify areas where we can expand our services. Our new energised Argenta brand and the “One Brand, One Vision” campaign emphasises Argenta’s long-term commitment to advancing world-class treatments, therapies and nutrition for healthier and happier animals by delivering trusted, innovative ‘molecule to market’ solutions.
About Will Downie
An accomplished and purpose-driven leader, Will Downie is Argenta’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With a passion for building high-performing teams and creating collaborative cultures, Will has a strong track record in helping companies to successfully transform their businesses in both publicly listed and private equity settings. Although the CEO role at Argenta is Will’s first role in animal health, he has been the loving owner of many pets over the years and currently has a Cockapoo dog and Bengal and Siamese cats in his family.
Will has a long-standing career in the healthcare industry and an extensive understanding of the drug development and manufacturing market. Prior to joining Argenta in April 2022, Will was the CEO of Vectura, a leading global CDMO for inhaled drug development solutions. In this role, he transformed the company into a global leader in its space, almost doubling the valuation. Prior to this, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at Catalent Inc. for 10 years, and earlier in his career worked in a range of senior sales and marketing positions at GE Healthcare, Sanofi and Merck.
Will holds a BSc (Hons) in biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
