Capsugel and Bend: 'Marriage made in heaven' as first tech transferred

By Dan Stanton

- Last updated on GMT

Capsugel and Bend begin tech transfer following takeover
Capsugel and Bend begin tech transfer following takeover

Related tags Pharmacology

The acquisition of Bend Research by Capsugel may be “a marriage made in heaven” for customers, the firms say, as the first drug delivery tech is transferred.

The takeover - of which financial terms have not been disclosed - was completed earlier this month and this week Bend announced it has added Capsugel's Xcelodose 600s powder-filling technology to its drug development process, which was the first tech transfer between the two firms.

“The fact that this happened within two weeks of the acquisition completion is a testament to both companies’ commitment to bring the full range of our combined capabilities to our customers,”​ Bend’s President Jim Nightingale told in-Pharmatechnologist.com.

“It’s amazing how well the offerings from both companies dovetail and complement each other,”​ he continued, adding the firm has a number of ongoing projects in areas from modifying and targeting drug release, pediatric/geriatric solutions, and abuse deterrence, which will be enhanced by the integration into the Dosage Form Solutions business unit of Capsugel.

Responses from customers and partners have also been positive, Nightingale said, with one unnamed firm describing the acquisition as “a marriage made in heaven.”

He continued: “Other customers have told us they value the acquisition because it brings capital, broader technologies, global reach, and the Capsugel corporate reputation and firepower.”

This was certainly the case with one of Bend’s partners, Dow Pharma, who in-Pharmatechnologist.com spoke with at CPhI Frankfurt​ last week.  The collaboration sees Dow and Bend work together on several projects intended to offer clients solubility solutions and tackle bioavailability, and Dow told us the partnership would be strengthened and could "not think of a better owner than Capsugel."

Tech transfer and Synergy

The transferral of the Xceldose “is one area of synergy for inhalant formulations as well as solid dispersion formulation,”​ said Jim Coward, Sr. Marketing Director, Capsugel Dosage Forms Solutions.

He told this publication the two companies “have tremendous synergies in terms of core capabilities, business model, customer base, and the problem statements that our technologies address.”

Whilst Bend will “forward integrate”​ with access to a “full range of formulation and commercial services,”​ Capsugel  “customers will now have access to this combined suite of technologies, capabilities, and sites,” ​he said.

Bioavailability

According to Nightingale, Bend’s “top priority is the integration of our bioavailability enhancement offering.”

This was echoed by Coward who told us the two firms would complement each other in the bioehancement challenge: “Having the industry’s broadest range of technology options enables Capsugel DFS to provide the best solution for a client’s formulation challenge vs. trying to push the limits of one technology.

“Both companies have modeling / mapping and expert systems, based on tremendous formulation experience, which limit the trial & error involved in technology selection and optimization and results in premier speed to clinic.”

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