NextPharma to Acquire Two of Lonza’s European Facilities

Lonza and NextPharma, a European contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced on Jan. 19, 2021 that they have entered into an agreement for the possible sale of Lonza’s Ploermel, France, and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, sites.

The two facilities consist of 260 and 130 permanent staff members respectively and produce liquid-filled hard capsules and softgels for the pharmaceutical market as well as the health and nutrition markets, Lonza said in a company press release. Through the agreement, Lonza plans to divest its softgels and liquid-filled hard capsules for the pharma market, while continuing to remain involved in feasibility studies as part of a technology selection offering.

“NextPharma is an established and well-respected company, with extensive experience in oral and topical finished dosage forms. As such, it is the ideal buyer given the technologies available at the Ploermel and Edinburgh sites,” said Gordon Bates, president and head of Small Molecules, Lonza, in the press release. “We are confident that the capabilities and experience at the two sites are a complementary fit with NextPharma’s portfolio, and that it is ideally placed to develop both to their full potential. Both our companies have a focus on people, development, and customers and we will be working closely in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition for all if the project is concluded.”

“At NextPharma, we are very excited at the prospect of adding two new centers of excellence, at Ploermel and Edinburgh, to our manufacturing network, allowing us to further broaden our technology offering for both our existing and new customers,” added Peter Burema, CEO of NextPharma, in the press release. “These technologies, combined with the know-how and expertise of the employees at both sites, would provide additional solutions for drug formulations which will benefit patients across the world. On behalf of NextPharma, I look forward to welcoming our future colleagues, and I am confident that together we will continue to further develop and grow NextPharma as a leading and well-respected European CDMO.”

Source: Lonza