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| Capsugel gets Bend's SDD tech in the deal to improve its oral formulations.--Courtesy of Bend |
Capsugel, a specialist in the manufacture and sale of drug capsules, acquired Oregon's Bend Research, taking hold of the company's formulation technology that increases compounds' stability. The terms of the agreement remain under wraps, and Capsugel expects to close the deal in 30 days.
Bend's spray-dried dispersion (SDD) technology disperses a drug throughout a polymer matrix, dissolving the compound molecularly. The combination is spray-dried to protect the drug, giving it long-term stability and manufacturability, according to Bend. For Capsugel, this bolsters the deliverability of its line of oral formulations.
Morristown, NJ-based Capsugel will fold Bend into its Dosage Forms Solutions (DFS) arm, which "was created to integrate technology platforms, R&D capability and commercial manufacturing infrastructure to help improve and accelerate product development and launch for pharmaceutical and nutritional customers," unit president Amit Patel wrote FierceDrugDelivery in an email. The focus of the division lies in lipid and liquid technologies with modified and targeted release solutions.
"Capsugel's acquisition of Bend Research provides Capsugel DFS a broader set of alternatives and tools to help customers address these pressing formulation challenges," Patel wrote. "Bend Research's spray-dried dispersion technologies, as well as their hot-melt extrusion and nanotechnology options, complement our lipid and liquid-based formulation technologies in improving bioavailability."
Beyond its SDD tech, Bend also has solutions for modified release, inhalation delivery and biotherapeutic processing and formulation. As for Capsugel, Patel says the company is continuing its growth in both its core hard capsule business as well as its newer DFS arm. And they continue to innovate oral platforms across the board, he added.
"On the platform technology front, select projects include an intrinsically enteric capsule that eliminates the need for time-consuming coatings which can in turn speed up and de-risk product development, as well as advancements to abuse deterrence technologies," Patel wrote. "In short, we are staying in front of this rapidly evolving industry to best serve our customers."
In 2011, Pfizer ($PFE) sold Capsugel to global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for $2.38 billion.
- here's the Capsugel release