Catalent to acquire Pharmatek Laboratories
Acquisition of US development and clinical manufacturing specialist will add extensive formulation development capabilities and expands bioavailability enhancement solutions
Catalent, through its wholly owned subsidiary Catalent Pharma Solutions Inc., has agreed to acquire Pharmatek Laboratories, a specialist in drug development and clinical manufacturing based on the West Coast of the US. No financial details have been disclosed.
The acquisition will add extensive early-phase drug development capabilities from discovery to clinic, bring spray drying into Catalent’s portfolio of drug formulation and delivery technologies, and expand Catalent’s capability for handling highly potent compounds.
The addition of spray drying will also provide Catalent customers with a comprehensive suite of bioavailability enhancement solutions, while complementing and expanding Catalent’s OptiForm Solution Suite platform, a science-driven parallel screening approach to identify the optimal formulation pathway for poorly soluble compounds.
Pharmatek provides dosage form development and clinical-scale cGMP manufacturing of oral, injectable and topical products for more than 100 customers globally. At its San Diego cGMP facility, Pharmatek offers a fully integrated drug development platform, with discovery formulation screening for lead selection and optimisation, comprehensive formulation development and analytical services, and finished dose form manufacturing for clinical supply.
Additional services include first-in-man strategies, solutions for poorly soluble compounds, controlled release formulations, and specialised facilities and controls for potent compound handling.
'Catalent continues to expand its industry-leading drug development and delivery technologies to help its pharmaceutical partners to fully unlock the potential of their molecules and provide better treatments for patients,' said Barry Littlejohns, President of Catalent’s Drug Delivery Solutions business.
'Combined with Catalent’s existing technologies and network, the addition of Pharmatek’s well-established scientific expertise and spray dry capabilities will create an unparalleled drug development platform, while the San Diego facility will expand our West Coast presence and provide additional access to the Asia-Pacific markets.'
The site in San Diego employs nearly 200 people, providing development and analytical services for more than 120 molecules annually. The facility comprises 68,000ft2 of laboratory, manufacturing and support space, with two analytical labs, two formulation labs, four engineering rooms and nine Certified ISO Class 8 manufacturing suites.
The site also features 18,000ft2 of laboratory, manufacturing and support space dedicated to development and manufacturing of highly-potent compounds.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the next few weeks.