Recipharm inks manufacturing and controlled release tech deal with Tillotts

31-Aug-2016 - Last updated on 01-Sep-2016 at 11:05 GMT

Image: iStock/Saklakova

Recipharma will provide pellet coating technology for controlled release drugs to Tillotts Pharma as part of a long-term manufacturing deal.

The deal will see contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Recipharm manufacture the commercial drugs Entocort and Asacol on behalf of Tillotts Pharma AG - a subsidiary of Japan’s Zeria Group - as well as work on the development of the Phase III Ulcerative Colitis candidate TP05.

Part of the work will be done at Recipharm’s facility in Pessac, France which offers drug companies access to advanced pellet coating technology for controlled release products.

“Recipharm in Pessac uses advanced fluid bed technology which allows for very precise control of the coating parameters, thus creating the means to achieve the desired characteristics of the manufactured product,” a spokesman told in-Pharmatechnologist.com.

Tablet and capsule manufacturing - including final packaging – will be done from Recipharm’s facility in Fontaine, France, while bottle filling will be done at its site in Lisbon, Portugal.

As part of the agreement, the two firms will split an investment of €3.5m ($3.9m) to expand Recipharm’s capacity and product capabilities.

“The major part of the investment is product specific but there will also be investments in technical infrastructure,” we were told.

“The additional products will create some new positions, but the exact number is not yet determined.”

According to Tillotts’ COO Mattias Norrman, Recipharm was chosen following a “thorough evaluation process to ensure we partner with a CDMO that can meet the needs we have for project management during technology transfer and scale-up, as well as fulfilling our requirements as a reliable commercial supplier.”

The news is the latest in a string of publicised contract wins and extensions for the Swedish CDMO since it went public in April 2014.

The firm has also been pursuing an aggressive growth strategy, this year adding Kemwell’s contract development and manufacturing businesses, and part of Indian CMO Nitin Life Sciences to a list of recent acquisitions which include Corvette, Lusomedicamenta, Flamel Technologies, Synthonics and Pharmanest.