Recipharm, a CDMO of drug substances and drug products, reports that Blue Wolf Capital Partners, a US-based private equity firm, has committed, subject to regulatory clearances, to acquire seven of its sites: Solna, Strängnäs, Höganäs, Karlskoga and Uppsala OTC Development in Sweden; Pessac in France; and Parets in Spain. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Greg Behar, Recipharm’s CEO, said: “…The consolidation of our sites network gives a sharp focus to our oral solid dosage activity on New Chemical Entities (NCEs), medium to high potency and on-patent drugs, supporting our aspiration to being the number 1 oral solid dosage CDMO in Europe. In the sterile fill and finish segment, we maintain our focus on building our leadership in lyophilisation and pre-filled syringes (PFS). In Biologics, ReciBioPharm continues to build our differentiated presence in nucleic acids and viruses, with the ambition to strengthen our leading position in nucleic acids, in microbiome and in viruses.”

The divestment follows the recently completed spin-out of its Advanced Delivery Systems (ADS) business. Bespak announced the completion of its spin-out from Recipharm to form a new stand-alone organization focused on drug-device combination products and drug-delivery devices for pulmonary and nasal inhalation.

Historically, Bespak is the name used by its King’s Lynn, UK site, a global supplier of pressurized metered dose Inhaler (pMDI) dosing valves and actuators, and complex dry powder Inhaler (DPI) devices. The new Bespak Group consists of three sites and has a broader range of capabilities. Its early-stage laboratory in North Carolina, US has over 20 years of experience in feasibility, analytical and product development services for inhaled and nasal drug products while its Holmes Chapel, UK site has a history in the scale-up and clinical and commercial supply of pMDIs and nasal drug-device combination products going back to the 1960s.

Chris Hirst, formerly President of the Advanced Delivery Systems Business Unit at Recipharm, has been named CEO of the newly formed independent company, which will be headquartered at Holmes Chapel.

Kåre Schultz, formerly CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bespak. Schultz headed Teva from 2017 to 2022 and has also served as Executive Vice President and COO at Novo Nordisk, CEO at Lundbeck, and Chairman of Royal Unibrew, a listed Danish brewery and beverage company.