Catalent has announced plans to acquire Pharmatek Laboratories, a contract drug development and clinical manufacturing company, for an all-cash undisclosed sum. The acquisition will add extensive early-phase drug development capabilities from discovery to clinic, bring spray drying into Catalent’s portfolio of drug formulation and delivery technologies and expand the New Jersey-based firm’s capability for handling highly potent compounds. Pharmatek provides dosage form development and clinical-scale cGMP manufacturing of oral, injectable and topical products, as well as its own drug development platform.

Barry Littlejohns, president of Catalent’s Drug Delivery Solutions business, said the addition of Pharmatek will create an unparalleled drug development platform, and its facility in San Diego, California, will expand its presence on the US west coast and provide additional access to markets in Asia-Pacific. The San Diego site comprises two analytical laboratories, two formulation laboratories, four engineering rooms and nine certified ISO Class 8 suites, as well as laboratory, manufacturing and support space for developing and manufacturing highly potent compounds.

Completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the next few weeks, subject to the usual closing conditions. The deal is seen as an about-face for Catalent, which was rumored in April to be a takeover target for Swiss group Lonza.