Bend Research and Catalent Pharma Solutions have entered into an agreement to provide integrated solutions for pharma companies seeking to develop and manufacture specialized multiparticulate oral controlled-release products. The companies will provide an integrated approach to bring complex CR products to market faster and more efficiently with optimal therapeutic and release profiles.

According to a joint statement, "The companies’ combined expertise in formulation development and Catalent's breadth of services in analytical/CMC, solid-state optimization, clinical and commercial supply will provide pharmaceutical companies with optimal dosage forms and a more efficient path to market." Catalent and Bend Research are developing joint operations and technology-transfer protocols to bridge customers smoothly while also leveraging each companies' strengths.

Rod Ray, chief executive officer of Bend Research, commented, “Our integrated approach is geared toward complex, multiparticulate controlled-release products, which traditionally have presented a high scale-up risk when they are transferred to commercial manufacturing sites. This partnership with Catalent will provide an efficient pathway for these medicines from early development through commercialization. We believe that Catalent's breadth of services and demonstrated success in bringing CR products to market, as well as supplying them globally, makes them an ideal complement to our development strengths.”