The latest from CDMOs, CMOs, and suppliers featuring Catalent, Asymchem, Sterling Pharma Solutions, Enzene Biosciences, Stevananto Group.  

General 
* Catalent Shareholders Approve $16.5-Bn Acquisition by Novo Holdings
Chemicals/Chemical API Manufacturing 
* Asymchem To Acquire UK API Pilot Plant from Pfizer 
* Sterling Pharma Solutions Expands ADC Mfg Capacity 
Biologics Manufacturing 
* Enzene Bio Launches New Drug Discovery Division
Packaging 
* Stevanato Group Names New CEO 

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General 

Catalent Shareholders Approve $16.5-Bn Acquisition by Novo Holdings 
At a Special Meeting of Stockholders held on May 29, 2024, the stockholders of Catalent, approved the pending $16.4-billion acquisition of Catalent by Novo Holdings, the parent company of Novo Nordisk. The companies had announced the acquisition in February 2024.  

Upon closing, the acquisition of Catalent will net Novo three fill–finish sites and related assets in Anagni, Italy; Bloomington, Indiana; and Brussels, Belgium. After closing, Novo Holdings plans to sell the three fill–finish sites to Novo Nordisk for $11 billion. The Catalent acquisition is expected to gradually increase Novo Nordisk’s filling capacity from 2026 and onwards. 

Based on the preliminary count of the voting results from the Special Meeting, Catalent stockholders voted to approve the transaction with 99.2% of ballots cast in favor of the proposed transaction. Catalent anticipates filing the final voting results for its Special Meeting in a Form 8-K with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, after certification by Catalent’s inspector of elections. 

The transaction is expected to close towards the end of calendar year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to any financing contingency. 

Source: Catalent 

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Chemicals/Chemical API Manufacturing 

Asymchem To Acquire UK API Pilot Plant from Pfizer 
Asymchem Laboratories, a Tianjin, China-based CDMO of small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), intermediates and drug products, has announced it will operate a former Pfizer small-molecule API pilot plant and part of the development laboratories in Sandwich, Kent, UK, through a new lease agreement between Asymchem and Discovery Park. The move establishes Asymchem’s first manufacturing footprint in Europe. Asymchem will continue to operate the site in Sandwich, Kent, UK, as a clinical small-molecule development and manufacturing facility. 

The development laboratories are expected to begin operation in June 2024, followed by the API pilot plant in August. The site is expected to employ approximately 100 individuals by the end of 2024, including many staff previously employed by Pfizer. Planned additions for the site include capabilities for the manufacture of peptides and oligonucleotides, as well as sustainability capabilities using continuous flow chemistry and biocatalysis. 

Source: Asymchem 

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Sterling Pharma Solutions Expands ADC Mfg Capacity  
Sterling Pharma Solutions, a Dudley, UK-based CDMO of small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates, has announced a $3-million investment at its Germantown, Wisconsin, facility, to expand its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing capabilities.  

Sterling has commissioned a dedicated GMP suite at the site, which will incorporate the installation of a modular isolator with containment capabilities down to less than 1 nanogram per cubic meter. 

The isolator has the capacity to undertake toxin linker manufacturing up to kilogram scale, allowing both clinical and commercial production, and facilitates weighing, dispensing, and dissolving of reagents within a fully contained environment. Additional isolator modules for automated flash, and high-pressure chromatography under a range of normal and reverse-phase conditions, as well as in-process analysis of products have also been installed. A further module, which will allow lyophilization of up to 30-liter batches at -85°C, is being commissioned. 

Source: Sterling Pharma Solutions 

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Biologics Manufacturing 

Enzene Bio Launches New Drug Discovery Division  
Enzene Biosciences, a Pune, India-based CDMO of biologics, has launched a new drug-discovery division.  

Enzene is introducing its new discovery arm to provide end-to-end integrated discovery services. The discovery offerings will include antibody services (target validation, discovery, and engineering), reagent production ranging from custom peptides and proteins to advanced modalities, such as plasmids, RNA and exosomes, and multi-platforms assays services. The new discovery division will be located at Enzene’s Pune facility, with new discovery laboratories set to be operational by July 2024 and further expansions planned later in the year. 

Source: Enzene Biosciences 

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Packaging 

Stevanato Group Names New CEO 
Stevanato Group, a provider of drug-containment, drug-delivery and diagnostic products and services, has appointed Franco Stevanato, a current director and the Executive Chairman of the company, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Stevanato will succeed Franco Moro who is stepping down as CEO, effective June 30, 2024. Mr. Moro will remain on the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Stevanato has held the position of Executive Chairman since 2021 and he previously served as CEO of Stevanato Group from 1998 to 2021. 

Source: Stevanato Group