Synerlab buys contract manufacturing developer Alcala Farma for undisclosed price

Synerlab, a French pharmaceutical manufacturer, has purchased Spain-based contract development and manufacturing company Alcala Farma for an undisclosed amount.

Alcala has two production facilities in Spain: one specializes in soft gelatin capsules and the other covers more than 250 formulations and 3,500 references. The drugs in Alcala's portfolio come in multiple dosage forms that include injectable and topical products, according to a release from the companies.

Terms of the acquisition, which was financed by Synerlab's shareholders, 21 Partners and Ardian, were not disclosed. Synerlab posted sales of $103.6 million (€110 million) last year, employs about 700 people and has 5 production sites in France.

"The acquisition of Alcala Farma positions Synerlab as a leading European specialist pharmaceutical manufacturer," Pierre Banzet, Synerlab's CEO, said in a statement.

In 2013, Synerlab was acquired by 21 Partners through a management buyout. That transaction followed the 2012 purchase by Synerlab of Lyofal, which specialized in outsourcing lyophilization services for R&D, formulation and manufacturing.

- see the Synerlab release