Roquette, a company involved in plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients, entered an agreement to acquire Qualicaps, the third largest producer of hard capsules for oral dosage solutions. The acquisition expands Roquette’s position as a major supplier to the pharmaceutical industry. The combination of the two businesses will contribute to Roquette’s strategic growth plan and will create new opportunities for Roquette and Qualicaps’ customers and employees.

Qualicaps, headquartered in Nara, Japan, has a client base that includes major pharmaceutical and food companies around the world, and a workforce of 1,400 employees located in sites in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The strategic investment expands the global footprint of Roquette’s pharmaceutical business, as well as its offerings of oral dosage solutions. Qualicaps adds expertise in capsules, as well as its assets and infrastructure. The newly combined businesses will offer a comprehensive range of diverse oral dosage solutions to existing and new customers, addressing current needs and anticipating future ones through new and innovative solutions.  

Qualicaps’ global footprint, with manufacturing and R&D sites in Japan, Spain, Romania, Canada, the U.S., and Brazil, will allow Roquette to expand its presence and be closer to its customers and markets.

Pierre Courduroux, CEO of Roquette, said, “Today’s announcement is a significant step in Roquette’s journey to reinforce its position as a key player in Health and Nutrition markets. Qualicaps’ strong position in hard capsules will represent a significant addition to our excipients’ portfolio and will enable our company to offer more solutions responding to the needs of our customers and to the demands of patients who are looking for continuously better treatments.”