The acquisition, financial terms of which were not disclosed, includes Unitech’s facility in Matfors, near Sundsvall in central Sweden, which houses 600L good manufacturing practice (GMP) standard biologics production capacity.
Cobra CEO Peter Coleman told Outsourcing-pharma.com that: “We bought Unitech because it complimented our capabilities by providing bigger microbial capacity, fill finish and lyophilisation.”
He explained that the Matfors plant is modern, compliant and equipped with a fill-finish biologics suite that was completed in 2008.
“The acquisition is an expansion opportunity with the intention to build sales. All of the Cobra facilities are run cost efficiently with the emphasis on recruiting and keeping technically competent and commercially orientated staff.”
Unitech CEO Annette Elmqvist was also very positive about the deal. She told Outsourcing-pharma.com that: "We will be part of a larger company which will be a good opportunity for Cobra biologics and for our plant in Sweden to reach more customers and therefore a broader market.
Independent organisation
The acquisition is the first major development at Cobra since it split from former owner Sweden-based contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) Recipharm AB earlier this year and relaunched under its new name in early October.
At the time Reciupharm said the amicable split would allow it to focus on its core manufacturing activities and establish Cobra as a force in the contract biologics sector.
Coleman was similarly upbeat about Cobra's progress since the separation.
“Recipharm were very good to Cobra when they owned the business, however the management and staff of Cobra feel very positive about the business and future business prospects as a newly independent organisation."