Catalent Pharma Solutions plans to invest $5 million in the creation of a new drug development center of excellence (CoE) at its Somerset, New Jersey facility and headquarters.

The investment will see the site focus on preclinical to clinical Phase IIb formulation, analytical, and manufacturing solutions for orally delivered small molecules. It will also build upon the site’s experience in developing modified-release formulation, bioavailability solutions, the application of OptiMelt hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology, and its status as the company’s CoE for handling potent compounds and controlled substances.

Catalent’s 265,000-square-foot headquarters and development center in Somerset has analytical labs, pilot- and clinical-scale equipment, including HME and fluid-bed processing, and experience in coating technologies, capsules, tablets, minitablets, and multi-particulates.

Catalent’s early-phase drug development sites are connected to Catalent’s Clinical Supply Services network to improve transition from finished-dose manufacture to clinical packaging and distribution. Additionally, the Somerset facility will offer transfers to Catalent’s integrated commercial manufacturing network in: Kansas City, Missouri; Winchester, Kentucky; Swindon, UK; and Schorndorf, Germany, for later stage clinical trials using compatible, scalable equipment.

Source: Catalent Pharma Solutions