Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. has entered an agreement to acquire Pharmatek Laboratories, Inc., a San Diego-based drug development and clinical manufacturer, in an all-cash transaction. Financial details were not disclosed.
 
The acquisition will add early-phase drug development capabilities from discovery to clinic, spray drying formulation and delivery technologies, and expand handling for highly potent compounds. The addition of spray drying will also provide a suite of bioavailability enhancement services, while expanding its OptiForm Solution Suite platform.   
 
Pharmatek provides dosage form development and clinical-scale cGMP manufacturing of oral, injectable and topical products. Its San Diego facility offers an integrated drug development platform, with discovery formulation screening for lead selection and optimization, formulation development and analytical services, and finished dose form manufacturing for clinical supply. Additional services include first-in-man strategies, solutions for poorly soluble compounds, controlled release formulations, and specialized facilities and controls for potent compound handling.
 
“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,” said Barry Littlejohns, president of Catalent’s Drug Delivery Solutions business. He added, “Combined with Catalent’s existing technologies and network, the addition of Pharmatek’s well-established scientific expertise and spray dry capabilities will create an unparalleled drug development platform, while the San Diego facility will expand our West Coast presence and provides additional access to the Asia-Pacific markets.”
 
Pharmatek’s cGMP San Diego facility employs approximately 200 people. The facility comprises 68,000 sq.-ft. of lab, manufacturing and support space, with two analytical labs, two formulation labs, four engineering rooms and nine Certified ISO Class 8 manufacturing suites. The site also has 18,000 sq.-ft. of lab, manufacturing and support space for development and manufacturing of highly-potent compounds.
 
The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the next few weeks.

Visit Catalent and Pharmatek at Tables 71, 72.