Catalent to open Japanese development lab

Catalent Pharma Solutions will open a development lab for oral formulation in Japan, citing the popularity of fast dissolve formulations in the country as a key driver.

The 107,000sqft laboratory - which is being built in the southern Japanese city of Kakegawa – will focus on proof-of-concept studies for developers interested in using Catalent’s Zydis orally dispersible tablet technology.

David Heyens, President of Catalent Asia Pacific, said: “Fast dissolve formulations are of unique importance in Japan and were pleased to announce our new Zydis laboratory which we plan to complete by August 2014, facilitating wider partnership with the Japanese pharmaceutical industry through local access to proof of concept and feasibility studies.

The new laboratory facility - which is scheduled to be fully operational in September – will also expand the CMO’s manufacturing capacity for its OptiGel micro softgel technology which is already based at the site.