Catalent Pharma Solutions and Parexel International ($PRXL) have joined forces to streamline the supply chain for clinical trials, saying their combined expertise can cover clients from early-stage planning to post-trial disposal.
Neither company disclosed financial terms of the deal, but the agreement pairs Parexel's trial management and logistics services with Catalent's manufacturing and packaging capabilities, creating an end-to-end solution for drug developers, the companies say.
Together, the companies can cut back timelines and efficiently combine services that may otherwise require multiple contractors, making for an attractive offering to outsourcers, the companies say.
"As clinical trials become more complex, we feel it is imperative to help sponsors devise supply strategies and organize consistent manufacturing, packaging and delivery of trial-related supplies to locations around the world," Gerry Hepburn, Catalent's COO, said in a statement. "Parexel, with its extensive and unparalleled track record in clinical development, is the ideal partner for Catalent in this alliance, which will enable our customers to compete more effectively in the global marketplace."
For Catalent, the alliance follows its $410 million acquisition of clinical trial supply company Aptuit in February, a move Catalent said would make it the world's No. 2 provider of clinical supply services.
- read Parexel's statement
- get Catalent's release