Frost & Sullivan has presented its 2005 Contract Manufacturing Company of the Year Award to Patheon for its concrete foundation and strategy for future growth as well as its exceptional customer service and superior market growth skills. Patheon has also developed innovative strategies to take advantage of market changes.

Contract manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in North America is a growing market and with the sizeable investment required for manufacturing plants, contract manufacturing companies are emerging as a leading choice for outsourcing the manufacturing of both existing and new drugs, enabling pharma, biotech, and specialty companies to focus on research and sales and marketing.

Patheon has anticipated this surge in demand and moved to the forefront of contract manufacturing, building a global manufacturing network through site acquisitions. "Quality is a prime area of focus for Patheon and its acquisition strategies have focused on acquiring the best-quality manufacturing plants to provide best-in-class services to its customers," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst, Barath Shankar.

Patheon currently owns and operates 14 manufacturing sites in North America and Europe, which the company has integrated into a network that enables them to manage their projects in a more efficient manner and cater to the respective local markets. Patheon also provides development, manufacturing, and packaging solutions to its clients.