Top award for pharmaceutical student

Aug 7 2009 By nebusiness

HELEN Anderson of SCM Pharma has picked up a ‘Top Student’ award at TyneMet College after attaining top marks in 52 assignments over a two year period to qualify as a BNC Pharmacy Technician.

Helen, from Burnopfield, achieved a distinction on every module of the Pharmacy Services course and becomes only the third person in almost a decade at the North Tyneside–based college to accomplish such a feat.

The National Certificate in Pharmacy Services successfully completed by Helen covers subjects such as chemistry, biology, pharmacy production and how drugs are metabolised in the human body.

Helen undertook the programme to assist in her role as lead operator in the skilled production team at Prudhoe-based pharmaceutical company SCM Pharma. The high-tech contract manufacturer helps its clients progress their medicinal products and devices through clinical trials by providing specialist development and manufacturing services.

Shirley Dann, managing director at SCM Pharma, said: "We are all very proud of Helen’s fantastic achievement. She has demonstrated a huge amount of commitment and dedication in not only passing the course but in attaining such high marks.

"Our company places great emphasis on continuous training and development alongside internal career progression. Helen’s success and the support she received from numerous departments within the business is a great example of the positive culture we have and constantly encourage at SCM Pharma," added Shirley.

SCM Pharma recently hit the headlines after picking-up a major contract with drug giant Sanofi-aventis. The company is a leading light in the region’s burgeoning science sector and prides itself on its revolutionary approach to clinical manufacturing by offering companies of all sizes the opportunity to use its specialist expertise to develop and trial drugs, ultimately seeing them through to market.