Catalent to manufacture Pfizer’s heartburn treatment

Catalent Pharma Solutions has entered into an exclusive, long term supply agreement to produce Pfizer’s over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment, Nexium Control (esomeprazole)

Under the agreement, Catalent’s Winchester, Kentucky, facility will formulate and manufacture the 20mg proton pump inhibitor drug into enteric coated, delayed release pellets using fluid bed technology.

Catalent will also encapsulate these pellets into two-piece, hard-shell capsules, where the company has invested extensively in capsule banding technology required for OTC products.

Pfizer secured the exclusive global rights to market Nexium for the approved over-the-counter indications from AstraZeneca in 2012 however AstraZeneca continues to manufacture and sell the prescription product.

Barry Littlejohns, Catalent’s president of advanced delivery technologies, said: “Nexium is one of the leading global OTC medicines and its manufacture is well suited to our recently expanded Winchester facility where we have both the capacity and flexibility to accommodate programmes of this scale.

“We are proud to partner with Pfizer on delivering this important product to patients worldwide.”