The French solid-dose manufacturing site has gone to Astrea Pharma, a newly established CDMO focused on small molecule oral solid and aseptic dosages. Recipharm said Fontaine’s capabilities fit well with Astrea’s ambitions to grow a broad range of different processing, filling and packaging technologies, as well as a wide geographical reach.  Astrea is backed by French investment company Groupe Chevrillon.

Recipharm CEO Marc Funk commented: “This divestment will help strengthen our financial position and we see it as a positive step in streamlining our operations and consolidating our position as a top five global CDMO. We will continue to develop and invest in our highly successful contract manufacturing business.”

The Cramlington site in Newcastle – run by Aesica Pharmaceuticals – has gone to China’s Pharmaron Beijing. Cramlington offers cGMP manufacturing services for various APIs, from pilot through to commercial scale.

“This acquisition complements and further enhances Pharmaron’s CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls) capabilities in the UK and China. We are committed to expanding the Cramlington site to meet growing demand. Together with our API manufacturing facility expansion in China, this transaction is another important step in realizing our vision of becoming a leading global provider of integrated small molecule drug R&D and manufacturing services,” said Pharmaron’s chairman and CEO Boliang Lou.

Aesica Pharmaceuticals was previously owned by Consort Medical, which was acquired by Recipharm in February 2020.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist