Lonza set to sell two lipid oral dosage forms sites to NextPharma

The potential acquisition will see UK CDMO NextPharma develop and broaden its technology offering into lipid-based finished dosage forms

The potential acqusition would see NextPharma, a specialized contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for oral and topical (including sterile ophthalmic) finished dosage forms, develop and broaden its technology offering into lipid-based finished dosage forms in addition to offering high potency capabilities and New Chemical Entity (NCE) development services.

The two Lonza sites, which employ around 260 and 130 permanent staff respectively, produce liquid-filled hard capsules (including Licaps) and softgels (including for high potent and hormonal products) for the pharmaceutical and consumer health and nutrition markets.

The intended divestment would see Swiss CDMO Lonza exit both softgels and liquid-filled hard capsules for the pharma market, aside from retaining capability for feasibility studies as part of a technology selection offering.

In the consumer health and nutrition space, Lonza plans to exit softgels, but continue to offer Licaps-based products (lipid capsules) out of Colmar (France), Greenwood (USA) and Sagamihara (Japan).

Capsules (including Licaps for nutrition) remain core to Lonza’s offering and the company has recently announced an investment of CHF85 million to expand capsule manufacturing capacity by 30 billion capsules annually across eight sites.