Catalent to acquire Pharmatek: move adds expanded drug development services and spray drying technology

Acquisition of west coast development and clinical manufacturing specialist will add formulation development capabilities and expands bioavailability enhancement solutions.

Catalent, a global provider of advanced delivery technologies, biopharmaceuticals development solutions, biologics and consumer health products, announced today an agreement to acquire US-based specialist in drug development and clinical manufacturing, Pharmatek.

The acquisition is said to add early-phase drug development capabilities, bring spray drying into Catalent’s portfolio of drug formulation and delivery technologies, and expand Catalent’s capability for handling highly potent compounds. Spray drying will 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.

Founded in 1999, Pharmatek provides dosage form development and clinical-scale manufacturing of oral, injectable and topical products for more than 100 customers globally. The company offers drug development platforms, solutions for poorly soluble compounds, controlled release formulations and more.

President of Catalent’s Drug Delivery Solutions business, Barry Littlejohns said: “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.”

Pharmatek’s site in San Diego is a cGMP facility that employs nearly 200 people. The company provides development and analytical services for more than 120 molecules annually, and its facility comprises 68,000 square feet of laboratory, manufacturing and support space, with two analytical labs, two formulation labs, four engineering rooms and nine Certified ISO Class 8 manufacturing suites.