London-based Kuecept offers CRO services supporting preclinical drug development, specifically, pre-formulation testing, preclinical dose-vehicle screening, and formulation development, in addition to various drug-delivery technologies.
“Through this acquisition, our customers can now combine our capabilities with Aptuit's full suite of integrated drug development solutions to facilitate the transition of new drugs through preclinical evaluation to clinical manufacture,” said Dr. Mark Saunders, CEO and founder of Kuecept.
Per the acquisition, Kuecept will also provide Aptuit with its knowledge in respiratory, parenteral, and oral formulation development for insoluble compounds.
"We offer solutions in the fields of integrated drug discovery, CMC, and preclinical biosciences. The acquisition of Kuecept enhances our scientific expertise and capabilities in the pre-formulation development space,” said Aptuit CEO Dr. Jonathan Goldman.
Goldman explained that Kuecept scientists use small milligram quantities of API in the de-risking phase of late stage discovery. “Technologies such as hot melt extrusion, spray drying, wet and dry micronization and cutting edge microsphere chemistry are all routinely performed on very small amounts of API to develop robust and practical formulations,” he added.
According to Goldman, the acquisition will allow Aptuit to “improve the transition of compounds from medicinal chemistry in discovery through to formal regulatory based Drug Product Development."
The addition of these new capabilities will help grow Aptuits’ “unique fully integrated candidate” to IND/CTA solution (INDiGO) – the company’s program for accelerating early drug candidates.
Additionally, Goldman expects the acquisition will help customer benefit from “improved solubility solutions, reduced drug attrition and associated reductions in time and development costs."