In a transaction planned to close at the end of July, Evonik will acquire the business and assets of Canadian biotechnology specialist Transferra Nanosciences, formerly known as Northern Lipids. The German chemical producer said the acquisition is “a systematic step” in the ongoing implementation growth plans for its Health Care business line and will strengthen its position in the area of parenteral drug delivery technologies and services.

A Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO, Transferra provides services as well as products to biotechnology companies engaged in the development of pharmaceutical products, using its expertise in liposomal drug delivery systems.

The Canadian company’s services include prototype identification; scale-up and process development; analytical support and qualification of methods, as well as production of test articles for toxicology studies and cGMP manufacturing of clinical trial materials. Transferra also offers a range of extruders for large scale manufacture of commercial drug products.   

Evonik said its HealthCare arm has recently developed into a leading provider of formulation development and GMP manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry for advanced parenteral drug depot formulations, building on the acquisition of the Resomer portfolio of bioresorbable polymers and Surmodics Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.  
 
The combined drug delivery businesses of the German and Canadian companies will be able to provide “a full array” of services, ranging from prototype identification to commercial manufacturing,” said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, head of Evonik Health Care.