Capsugel is doubling down on its formulation and manufacturing business, buying Scotland's Encap Drug Delivery to expand its services.
Last month, Capsugel launched its Dosage Form Solutions unit, designed to provide full-spectrum support for clients developing hard-capsule drugs. Now, by acquiring Encap, Capsugel can add liquid and semi-solid encapsulations to its expertise.
"Encap's capabilities and offerings align seamlessly with our DFS business unit, which is focused on lipid-based formulations and targeted-release capsules," Capsugel CEO Guido Driesen said in a statement. "This acquisition will accelerate the growth of DFS and further strengthen our leadership position in liquid-filled formulations in hard capsules."
The deal also bolsters Capsugel's commercial manufacturing capacity, as Encap brings along an FDA- and MHRA-inspected facility. The Scottish company also comes with three proprietary targeted-release technologies Capsugel can add to its list of available services.
Amit Patel, President of Capsugel DFS, said in a statement that tacking on Encap's capabilities complements what his unit already does, improving its offerings in bioavailability, stability, dosing and delivery, and overall time-to-market.
Capsugel, which Pfizer ($PFE) sold off for $2.4 billion back in 2011, has been steadily expanding its capsule manufacturing footprint since leaving the pharma giant, notching partnerships and acquisitions in an effort to build an end-to-end service platform for clients.
- read Capsugel's statement