What links gin, 1960s pop balladeer Donovan and Molecular Profiles?
The contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) previously known as Molecular Profiles was bought by Columbia in September 2013.
Since then the firm has seen a number of technology investments (here and here) designed to expand its offering.
The rebranding continues this expansion process according to Juniper Pharma Services President Nikin Patel, who said: “The single Juniper brand formalizes the experience and capabilities that has been built in Boston and Nottingham.
“The name change also coincides with the expansion of our service offering to the North American market.”
Columbia has also rebranded as Juniper Pharmaceuticals and will be listed on the Nasdaq unde the new JNP ticker symbol.
CEO Frank Condella said: "Adopting the Juniper Pharmaceuticals brand marks the next step in the Company's return to developing specialty products in women's health.
"We are committed to anticipating and addressing unmet medical needs and developing important therapeutics for patients."
Columbia filed an IND for its lead product candidate, COL-1077, a 10% lidocaine bioadhesive gel last month and is due to begin a Phase II clinical trial later this year.
The firm also recently licensed rights to an intravaginal ring delivery technology that it described as "a key drug delivery platform for the Company's emerging proprietary product pipeline."
Oh and in case you were wondering, juniper berries are used to flavour gin and Donovan's song "Jennifer Juniper" reached number 5 in the UK charts in 1968.
