2024-06-12

Tell us about Veolia’s pharma-related offerings or services and how these products stand out in this industry?

Veolia is a €45 billion global multinational company with over 200,000 employees worldwide. We operate three major businesses: water technology solutions, solid waste management, and energy management. I lead the water technology solutions division, which is our focus today. In this division, we provide a range of solutions, from supplying high-quality, purified water to treating effluent and zero liquid discharge.

Veolia’s Sievers™ TOC analysers Instruments is a very well accepted brand in the Pharmaceutical and BioPharma industry specifically for water monitoring applications. Pharmaceutical Water needs stringent monitoring for four parameters – Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Conductivity, Endotoxin and BioBurden. Veolia is the only global brand offering all four capabilities.

We also supply specialty chemicals and analytical instruments for real-time water quality testing at various locations. The pharma market is crucial for us due to its immense potential for applying new technology. Globally, we have a significant presence in pharma, with projects across Europe, the USA, and other locations. In India, we aim to expand our presence with innovative solutions.

Our flagship product, Orion™, is a fully integrated solution for producing purified water water essential for pharma and biotech industries. It utilizes membrane-based technology, including RO, EDI, and low-pressure ultra-filtration membranes, ensuring energy efficiency and reducing the need for costly chemicals. Traditionally, pharma industries rely on distillation, which is less energy-efficient and requires extensive process monitoring. Our Orion™ cold WFI solution addresses these challenges effectively. Additionally, we offer solutions for treating complex effluents, such as our EVALED™ system, which includes mechanical vapor recompression-based evaporation technologies, offering lowest OPEX, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing water recycling and byproduct recovery.

Could you elaborate on Veolia's manufacturing operations, particularly in India?

Most of our products are manufactured outside India, but we do have a factory in Bangalore where we produce NF & RO membranes. While the majority of manufacturing occurs abroad, we strategically manufacture certain components in India to cater to local demand.

What are the benefits of bioburden testing and rapid microbiology methods in quality control?

Traditionally the bioburden testing takes 5 days and this adversely impacts the productivity and well as decision-making at the quality control levels. Our Rapid Microbiological Monitoring platform (Sievers™ Soleil) gives results in just 45 minutes (or less) and it is the only rapid platform where the results are co-relatable to the traditional measurement method (plate count)

How does Veolia ensure compliance with varying quality standards across different countries?

We adhere to world-class standards in all our products and services, recognizing that global standards are evolving. While we maintain high-quality standards universally, we engage with customers in regions with relaxed standards to ensure our solutions meet their specific requirements. Our analytical instruments, for instance, comply with stringent international standards, regardless of local variations.

What is the significance of real-time release testing (RTRT) in pharmaceutical water monitoring and the role of data integrity in process analytical technologies (PAT) and real-time release testing? 

Unnecessary delays during pharmaceutical water monitoring have negative impacts on productivity and the ability to efficiently supply patients with the drug products they need. Real-time release testing (RTRT) of pharmaceutical water exponentially enhances process efficiencies by migrating from laboratory-based checks like that of total organic carbon (TOC) and conductivity monitoring in accordance with USP <643> and USP <645> respectively to online-based monitoring and release of Water for Injection (WFI)/Ultrapure Water (UPW) into production. In doing so, eliminates the need to isolate and evaluate WFI/UPW grab samples in the lab frequently, streamlining the process by which water is released into production.

Data Integrity is the heart of decision-making in PAT and Real Time Release Testing and as all decisions are taken based on the data points generated during monitoring and measurement, it is eminent that the data is not only accurate but is also reliable and has not been tampered with. This is where data integrity becomes so very important and that brings in various checks like 21 CFR Part 11, which is a check to make sure anything and everything that has happened has been accounted for and there is someone who is tagged for that change.

What strategies is Veolia employing to expand its presence in Asia, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector?

In Asia, our focus is on providing fully integrated solutions tailored to meet customer needs. We aim to position our solutions effectively in the market to address industry challenges comprehensively, fostering growth and efficiency. Our approach involves offering customized solutions where necessary to meet specific client requirements, ensuring optimal effectiveness and productivity.

Kindly mention about the significance and strategy of Veolia's Pharma segment in India?

The pharma industry is pivotal for us, especially in India, which serves as a pharmaceutical hub with high growth potential. We are committed to bringing international technological solutions to support the industry's growth while ensuring compliance and environmental sustainability. Our aim is to be a strategic partner for the pharma sector, providing ecologically friendly solutions to enable efficient and responsible growth.