The students of the Master's Degree in design Galenic and Industrial Pharmacy (MDGFI) have visited the facilities of the companies Praxis and Idipharma, where they were attended by professionals who, in both cases, are also alumni of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition.

Ángel Ursúa (FAR 86), director Idifarma technician, who explained to the MDGFI and MIDI students the history of business, the current organization and work they develop. According to Itxaso Ruiz de las Heras, from the area of development of the School, "we were divided into three groups, since we totaled 31 students, to visit the Departments Quality Assurance, Galenic, Microbiology, development Analytical and the area of drug production. We received explanations from the people in charge of each area, who answered all the students' questions. This is the second year we have visited Idifarma and it has been really great".

"In fact," adds Itxaso, "we have an established relationship with Idifarma, and whenever they open an selection process for a work space, a scholarship, a work end of maser, etc., they always count on us".

At the forefront of individualized therapy

In the case of Praxis, one of the students, Juan Navarro Campos, explains that from work of this business -dedicated to development of biological drugs, nano-microformulations, lyophilized drugs and research in cell regeneration- he was surprised by "the high Degree of specialization and innovation of the business and the fact that they develop very small batches (clinical batches) and for individualized therapy. In fact, these batches are designed and developed according to the specific characteristics of the individual for whom they are intended".

On the other hand, for Juan the visit was useful to know the method of work and the organization of the business: "We even knew the schedules of work, which can be flexible if necessary. They also told us about the plant's future plans, such as the expansion of the production side to cover the manufacture of larger batches." "One of the things I liked most was the atmosphere at work, which seemed very good, and that it is a business focused on such cutting-edge techniques and formulations and with so much scope for development".

The same idea is shared by Master's Degree professorFernando Martínez Galán, who accompanied the students to Praxis' visit : "It is a business with cutting-edge technology and a great vision of the possibilities for growth in its market. Specializing in pathologies that affect the skin, above all, visiting it allowed the students to learn about employment opportunities , which is not limited to companies in Madrid or Barcelona, but also in other regions, such as Navarra".

In addition, for the professor, an expert in design Galenic, these visits to reference letter laboratories "are useful for the students - who receive a consistent training for work in laboratory, decision making or work as a team - to see how all of them are put in internship. And to have it explained to them by a former student, such as Alfredo Gómez, plant manager".

Small large companies

Claudia Mata, MDGFI student, considers that both the visit to Praxis and Idipharma "showed us as future graduates that we should not think only of large companies, large laboratories, as our only employment opportunities, but that there are firms such as Praxis and Idipharma that offer possibilities of development in an equally cutting-edge environment".

In the case of Praxis, Claudia highlights that, after the visit at laboratory, they received a class "of great interest for our training. I was also pleasantly surprised by the building and the production plant at business, where they manufacture small batches of injectables and cell therapy tissues for burn patients. In addition, there was a good atmosphere at work".

Finally, from the visit to Idifarma Claudia underlines the quality controllaboratory : "And the organization, which will also be improved with the implementation of a computer system that, according to what they did not say, will control the whole laboratory". "As in the case of Praxis, the visit helped us to broaden our prospects for work in the near future, when we finish postgraduate program," she concludes.