Catalent Divests Blow-Fill-Seal Sterile CDMO Business

SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors, has acquired the Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) sterile contract development and manufacturing business from Catalent Pharma Solutions. The acquisition of the BFS business, which will operate as a new independent company, is expected to close in April of 2021.

The business is a leading BFS sterile contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that operates out of a single site in Woodstock, IL, focusing on complex clinical to commercial stage formulation and manufacturing. The business supports a global, blue-chip customer base with a broad array of products that leverage its BFS sterile manufacturing capabilities and formulation competency in complex chemistries including small molecule, biologics, macromolecules, and potent compounds.

“Catalent’s BFS business is a proven industry leader in Blow-Fill-Seal sterile manufacturing with an uncompromising commitment to the highest quality, safety, and reliability standards,” said Aaron Davenport, a managing director of SK Capital. “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the management and employees of the business to create a focused and thriving independent company dedicated to providing its customers with the highest levels of service.”

Jonathan Arnold, president, oral and specialty delivery, Catalent, said, “Divesting our BFS manufacturing business will allow us to concentrate on our growing core activities of developing oral, inhaled and biologic drugs with customers, as well as rapidly extending our technological portfolio of new, emerging modalities, including cell and gene therapies. We would like to thank everyone at the Woodstock facility for their dedication and commitment to Catalent in their efforts to support the launch and supply of many essential drugs, and I am sure they will continue to thrive under the new ownership, whose team has extensive experience investing into and growing pharmaceutical businesses.”