Catalent, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, has acquired Micron Technologies, a leading global provider of particle size engineering technologies for the pharmaceutical industry.

In an important advance in executing its strategy to provide the best drug delivery technologies and the broadest drug development expertise, Catalent will add Micron Technologies’ superior particle size engineering capabilities to its industry leading suite of drug delivery and development solutions. Catalent can now partner with more pharmaceutical innovators at the earliest stages of the drug development process with an unrivaled set of options and expertise. These range from OptiForm API optimisation and Micron Technologies particle size optimisation, to expert formulation and final dose form design services, through to leading bioavailability solutions such as RP Scherer Softgel lipid systems and OptiMelt hot melt extrusion technologies. Catalent can support its customers all the way through scale up, clinical and commercial manufacturing of finished oral and inhaled dose forms around the world, including for highly potent compounds.

“This strategic acquisition allows Catalent to provide an unprecedented set of integrated development solutions and superior drug delivery technologies to the industry, partnering with our customers’ R&D teams earlier in the development cycle and helping them deliver better treatments to clinic and to market faster and more efficiently,” said John Chiminski, Catalent, Inc. president and chief executive officer,  “We are pleased to add Micron Technologies’ leading technologies and manufacturing expertise and welcome their highly talented management, scientific and operations teams to Catalent.”

Micron Technologies adds to Catalent’s long history of innovation and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry, with its proven and versatile portfolio of particle size reduction, micronization and milling technologies used to overcome bioavailability, stability and manufacturability challenges.

The acquisition is Catalent’s second since its IPO in July, and follows the acquisition of Redwood Bioscience, with its SMARTag Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology platform, in October 2014.

Micron Technologies currently operates two state-of-the-art facilities, with excellent quality and regulatory compliance records, in Malvern, PA, and in Dartford, UK., and employs approximately 100 people across both sites. Micron Technologies has over 25 years of experience in air jet milling micronization and is capable of processing R&D and commercial volumes at both of its sites. Micron Technologies currently supports active programs involving over 300 customers from around the world. Both facilities are equipped with advanced systems to ensure the quality, safety and total containment of highly potent and cytotoxic compounds, and provide integrated analytical services capabilities from early stage development to commercialization.

Joseph Drost, chief executive officer, of Micron Technologies, who will continue to lead this business, remarked, “We are excited to become part of Catalent, as there is a natural synergy between our organisations, with the global leader in advanced delivery technologies and development solutions now joining forces with a leading provider of particle size engineering technologies and integrated analytical services. Through access to Catalent’s global network, development expertise and innovative technologies, we can jointly provide end-to-end solutions to accelerate drug development programmes and bring better treatments to patients worldwide.”