The deal combines Norwich’s contract manufacturing and packaging operations with Emerson’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) characterisation, excipient and trial materials production services.
In the past few months Norwich has been adding to its roster of services. Just last month for example, the firm added pilot scale production and capacity to develop high potency compounds.
Prior to this, Norwich unveiled plans for a more comprehensive service offering to “assist customers throughout the life cycle of a product, as well as help… launch new initiatives, from line extensions to explorations into new product categories.”
These moves were very much in keeping with efforts made by other contract services groups like Velesco, Patheon and ASG which have all recently announced plans to develop “one stop shop” business models.
“Clear path to commercialisation”
According to Norwich president Chris Calhoun, the new partnership with Emerson builds on the firms’ history of collaboration and will offer “a clear path to commercialisation for the clients of both our companies.”
Calhourn denied that the move is designed to stave off the global economic downturn, and said that the partnership “ is an alliance of opportunity, not of necessity. When two strong companies come together under these circumstances, everybody wins.”
Adolfo Gomez, Emerson’s president, echoed these thoughts, explaining that: ‘Both companies can bring faster, more flexible full-service capabilities to our customers, without the burdens of added bureaucracy that often hamper our competitors.”
A joint management team will oversee projects undertaken by the two firms with individual management units taking charge of day to day research operations.
Emerson is expected to lead early-stage development, analytical and trial material manufacturing activities with Norwich taking responsibility for projects when they reach the Phase II clinical stage.
Norwich will also provide pharmaceutical industry clients with support for INDs, NDAs and ANDA and other regulatory application procedures.