Ardena, a specialist pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has signed an agreement to acquire Catalent’s state-of-the-art advanced drug product manufacturing facility in Somerset, New Jersey, which will expand its footprint into the U.S.
The U.S. facility will complement its existing facilities in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and will significantly enhance its capabilities in downstream late-stage and small-scale commercial manufacturing of oral drug products. This will also support its strategy to become a global leader in the CDMO space by offering integrated solutions across the entirety of the pharmaceutical development lifecycle.
The Somerset facility is FDA-approved, employs around 200 scientists and technicians, and is considered a Center of Excellence for advanced delivery of oral dosage forms, which will strengthen its presence in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets from both sides of the Atlantic. The acquisition will also offer an expansion opportunity for Ardena’s bioanalytical services in the U.S., serving a growing client base and a demand for advanced drug development services.
“Today marks a significant milestone in Ardena’s international growth strategy,” explained Jeremie Trochu, Chief Executive Officer of Ardena. “We are thrilled to welcome the talented scientific and operations team from Somerset into the Ardena family. Their commitment to providing exceptional service aligns perfectly with our core values of excellence, reliability, care, and integrity. Together, we will continue to support biopharma companies at the cutting edge of innovation to deliver life-changing therapies to patients worldwide,” he said.
“This expansion into North America is pivotal for Ardena as we continue to broaden our global footprint,” said Trochu. “By adding advanced technologies such as Hot Melt Extrusion, we are not only enhancing our bioavailability improvement solutions but also aligning with our expertise in developing innovative nanomedicine drug delivery systems. This investment accelerates our scale of operations and breadth of offerings to better serve our fast-growing international client base.”
Ardena’s private equity partner, GHO Capital, is credited as being instrumental in facilitating the acquisition. The transaction is expected to close in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of other conditions.
