Burges Salmon has advised on the transaction that has seen AptarGroup, Inc. acquire leading pharma analytical services company Nanopharm Ltd, which is part of Aptar’s strategy to broaden its portfolio of services that support pharmaceutical and biotech customers to accelerate and derisk their complex product developments.
The acquisition brings complementary, value-added and differentiated analytical and testing services for all stages of drug development and commercialisation. The expanded services platform will enable Aptar Pharma to collaborate earlier with customers to support their complex delivery forms and offer a faster, simplified and derisked new product development process in increasingly competitive and regulated markets.
A specialist in respiratory drug delivery services, Nanopharm is a science-driven, leading provider of orally inhaled and nasal drug product (OINDP) design and development services to customers worldwide. Nanopharm’s specialised contract research services complements Aptar Pharma’s existing broad range of analytical and product development services, and are directly aligned to Aptar Pharma’s device portfolio in Nasal and Inhaled products. Nanopharm’s goal is to enable and accelerate OINDPs’ seamless translation of preclinical development through to clinical manufacture.
Located in Newport, UK, Nanopharm employs 37 people at its state-of-the-art analytical facility.
Gael Touya, president of Aptar Pharma, says: “We are pleased to welcome Nanopharm, their team of experts and their customers to Aptar Pharma and our services business. This acquisition, which deepens our current range of services in Inhalation, will enable us to provide additional cutting-edge science-based services focused on further underderstanding and developing inhalation and nasal formulations.”
The Corporate team at Burges Salmon that advised Nanopharm was led by partner Mark Shepherd and director Tim Roberts.
Nanopharm Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Prof. Robert Price adds:“It was a pleasure to work with Mark and Tim who worked seamlessly with Shaw & Co to provide huge support through what was an unfamiliar process for us – they delivered clear, user friendly advice and were instrumental in us completing this key transaction against a challenging timetable.”
Mark Shepherd, partner at Burges Salmon says: “We are delighted to have worked closely with Rob and Jag to bring this transaction to a smooth and collaborative conclusion. Aptar Pharma is the perfect fit for Nanopharm and this transaction represents a landmark in its exciting development to date under Rob and Jag’s stewardship. We look forward to watching it continue to thrive as part of Aptar.”
Corporate finance advice was provided to the shareholders of Nanopharm by Shaw & Co.