Catalent, the US-based drug development specialist, has agreed to acquire Boston-based Juniper Pharmaceuticals, including its Pharma Services division located in Nottingham in the UK.
The acquisition of Juniper will expand and strengthen Catalent’s offerings in formulation development, bioavailability solutions and clinical-scale oral dose manufacturing, and will complement its integrated global clinical and commercial supply network.
Catalent said the acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.
Juniper employs nearly 150 professionals with broad scientific expertise in formulation development, and supply, and will augment Catalent’s current portfolio of solid-state screening, preformulation, formulation, analytical, and bioavailability enhancement solutions, including development of spray-dried dispersions, with integrated development, analytical, and clinical manufacturing co-located in its Nottingham facility.
“Juniper’s proven solutions and capabilities will further support Catalent’s strategic goal to be the most comprehensive partner for pharmaceutical innovators,” commented Jonathan Arnold, President of Catalent Oral Drug Delivery. “Juniper’s scientific expertise in early-phase product development and supply will help our customers unlock the full potential of their molecules and provide better treatments to patients, faster.”
In 2016, Catalent purchased Pharmatek Laboratories and has invested in its San Diego facility to create a centre of excellence for early drug development on the US West Coast.
Earlier this year, Catalent announced that it would invest in its Somerset, New Jersey facility to create a similarly focused centre of excellence on America’s East Coast.
Juniper will now provide similar capabilities in the UK and will complement Catalent’s multi-site oral manufacturing network to provide pharmaceutical innovators with a comprehensive solution to accelerate their drug development processes.
Under its acquisition agreement with Juniper, a subsidiary of Catalent will promptly commence a tender offer to purchase all of Juniper’s shares for a price of $11.50, net to the seller in cash. Following the conclusion of the tender offer, Catalent intends to complete the transaction by acquiring the remainder of the Juniper shares at the same price through a merger with a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Catalent.