The deal will see Peptisyntha’s Brussels liquid phase peptide synthesis plant become part of the network of facilities in Europe and the US operated by ICIG's contract manufacturing organisation (CMO), CordenPharma.
The unit being divested is a relatively small part of the Belgian drug firm's wider business according to Solvay spokeswoman Caroline Jacobs, who told this publication that the Brussels plant employs a staff of 51 people.
She added that no job cuts are expected at the facility as a result of the sale to ICIG, financial details of which were not provided.
Capabilities housed at the facility include solid, liquid and hybrid peptide API synthesis. In addition, Peptisyntha provides lead optimisation and manufacturing scale-up services at the plant.
Solvay will retain control of Peptisyntha’s US wing – which is based in Torrence, California, however, according to Germany-based International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), “certain of its customer relationships will be assumed by Peptisyntha in Brussels.”
A CordenPharma spokeswoman told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that: “As a member of the CordenPharma platform, Peptisyntha will continue its growth strategy. The company expects to ramp up its staff in line with implementation of this strategy.
She added that: “While Peptisyntha will remain a stand-alone legal entity, it will closely coordinate with the other CordenPharma companies in marketing & sales and customer relations.”
CordenPharma API restructuring
News of the deal follows just two months after ICIG announced that it would restructure Corden into two separate businesses focused on active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished dose drug production, respectively.
At the time the group said the move “reflects the distinct nature of these businesses” and appointed Christian Ewers as COO with oversight of API making operations at CordenPharma Colorado, CordenPharma Switzerland, Farchemia and CordenPharma France.