Catalent acquires remaining stake in Redwood Bioscience
Expands its biologics technology and adds the SMARTag ADC platform to its offering
Catalent Pharma Solutions has acquired the remaining stake in Redwood Bioscience, which brings the SMARTag Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology platform under its umbrella and strengthens its biologics business.
No financial details have been disclosed.
Catalent said the acquisition follows successful in vivo and in vitro proof of concept milestones, which provided compelling toxicology data and strong customer interest in the SMARTag technology. Redwood's team in Emeryville, CA, will become part of Catalent, led by Redwood President, CSO and Founder, David Rabuka.
In April 2013 Catalent acquired an exclusive licence to market the SMARTag technology and subsequently collaborated with Redwood on its ongoing development and marketing by taking a minority stake in the company.
John Chiminski, President and CEO, Catalent Pharma Solutions, said the acquisition brings 'a highly differentiated technology in the SMARTag platform, as well as a high calibre and innovative scientific team' to the company.
Barry Littlejohns, Catalent’s President of Advanced Delivery Technologies, added: 'In vivo toxicology studies have demonstrated that an ADC generated using the SMARTag platform has a better toxicity profile than a conventional ADC, and with efficacy studies, point to an improved therapeutic index.'
Catalent said this latest investment, combined with its GPEx cell line expression system, its new biomanufacturing Centre of Excellence in Madison, Wisconsin, and a broad range of analytical and fill-finish services, marks a further expansion of the company's capabilities in helping customers develop more and better biologics treatments.
