Catalent to Invest in New Drug Development Center of Excellence

Catalent Pharma Solutions announced on April 24, 2018 that it plans to invest $5 million in a new drug development center of excellence at its facility and headquarters in Somerset, NJ. The company reports that the site will focus on preclinical to clinical Phase IIb formulation, analytical, and manufacturing solutions for orally delivered small molecules. 

Additionally, the investment will expand the site’s expertise in the development of modified release formulation, bioavailability solutions, the application of OptiMelt hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology, and the site’s status as the company’s center of excellence for handling potent compounds and controlled substances, according to Catalent.

"This latest investment in Somerset will significantly strengthen our early development offering with focused formulation expertise and capacity for additional speed and flexibility," said Jonathan Arnold, president of Catalent’s Oral Drug Delivery business unit, in a company press release. "It is highly complementary to Catalent’s West Coast facility in San Diego, [CA], and further positions Catalent as the strategic partner of choice for the early development of solid oral dose forms."

The company’s 265,000-square-foot headquarters and development center in Somerset develops, launches, and manufactures oral treatments. The site includes analytical labs, pilot and clinical scale equipment including HME and fluid bed processing, and as well as capabilities in coating technologies, capsules, tablets, minitablets, and multi-particulates.

The Somerset facility will also offer transfers to the company’s commercial manufacturing network in Kansas City, MI, Winchester, KY, Swindon, UK, and Schorndorf, Germany, for later stage clinical trials using compatible, scalable equipment.

Source: Catalent