NextPharma acquisition of chewable tablet manufacturing site from Takeda complete

NextPharma has completed their acquisition of a Norway-based manufacturing site, specialising in chewable tablet technologies for calcium/vitamin D3 from pharmaceutical giant Takeda.

In operation for over 50 years, the Asker manufacturing site boasts approximately 170 employees and a portfolio of strengths and flavours for calcium/vitamin D3 chewable tablets and multivitamins. The facility will be included into NextPharma’s existing portfolio of sites and centres of excellence, each of which specialise in different formulations, technologies, and product types. NextPharma hopes that the facility will continue to bolster their unique capabilities and employee expertise with product development and commercial manufacturing businesses to attract new customers. With sites across Europe in Germany, France, Finland, Scotland, and now Norway, NextPharma offers contract services across various healthcare logistics and provides pharmaceutical development, clinical supply, scale-up, and process validation expertise for a range of dosage forms. These forms range from tablets, capsules, granules, gels, softgels, powders, pellets, and more, as well as a wide selection of primary packaging solutions including blister packs, bottles, and tubes. 

Bjørn Lie, head of the Asker manufacturing site, commented that “With NextPharma, we are confident that Takeda has chosen a buyer who will help nurture and grow the Asker site. We are all excited about joining the NextPharma team and look forward to working together to drive the long-term development and growth of the business and our people.” 

Takeda’s Senior VP, Head of Small Molecules Operating Unit Eduardo Montanha added: “We are pleased to have divested the Asker plant to NextPharma, to whom all of our Asker manufacturing employees have transferred. In NextPharma, we believe we have found the most suitable owner for the site, offering a great fit for the Asker facility and team. We sincerely thank the team in Asker for its work and dedication over the past years and for always putting our customers and patients at the centre of what they do. We with them and NextPharma every success.” 

With the acquisition, the CDMO hopes to continue to exceed expectations with high-quality services and delivery to existing customers, and develop and broaden their portfolio of technology for chewable tablets.  

CEO of NextPharma Peter Burema stated: “We are excited by the addition of a world-class manufacturing site and a new centre of excellence for chewable tablets to our operational network, allowing us to further broaden our technology offering for both existing and new customers. These technologies, combined with the know-how and expertise of the site’s employees, will continue to benefit patients across the world. On behalf of NextPharma, I welcome our new colleagues, and I am confident that together we will continue to further develop and grow NextPharma as a leading and well-respected European CDMO.” 

Source: NextPharma press release Acquisition of manufacturing site in Asker, Norway completed | NextPharma