Kemwell Acquires US Delivery Development Firm
Cirrus, based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, specializes in dosage form development via a number of delivery routes and will become a subsidiary of Kemwell Biopharma, complementing its facilities in Sweden and India.
“With this acquisition, Kemwell now has an established platform in the US market,” Kemwell’s VP of Corporate Development Karan Bagaria told in-Pharmatechnologist.com.
The acquisition will allow Kemwell to offer complete development solutions. Bagaria said: “Customers will get access to early development services in the US and cost-effective late-stage development and GMP manufacturing from our facilities in India and Sweden.”
Cirrus’ experience in inhalation, parenteral, transdermal, topical and liquid dosage forms was also praised by President R&D at Kemwell, Dr. Ninad Deshpanday, who said the deal would allow faster time-to-clinic for products and therefore a lower cost for customers.
Dr. Anthony Hickey, Cirrus’ President, added: “The acquisition will transform Cirrus into a global player in R&D services by significantly strengthening our capabilities in inhalation R&D and increasing offerings in other areas such as oral solids dosage forms.”
Financial details have not been divulged though Mark Phillips of Jacobs Capital who helped broker the deal said – in the Triangle Business Journal – all 60-odd jobs at Cirrus should be safe.
Growth and Expansion
Kemwell’s Director of Corporate Development Christian Ahlmark told Outsourcing-Pharma.com at this year’s Interphex in New York the firm was expanding its lab footprint on the East Coast to cater for customers’ formulation development, expertise and analyticals, though the firm said neither then nor now if this was in regards to the Cirrus deal.
However, the acquisition does form part of Kemwell’s growth strategy which has seen the firm recently complete its 7,500 sq ft GMP plant expansion in Bangalore, India and add an additional 1,500 sq ft of lab space to expand its analytical services.
Bagaria said: “We will now continue our efforts to grow the pharmaceutical development business by adding additional capabilities and expertise.”