Shire Pharmaceuticals sells US drug formulation business

Shire Laboratories, the US subsidiary of Shire Pharmaceuticals, is to sell its product formulation and development business to the newly formed company Supernus Pharmaceuticals.

Supernus was founded by the former Shire Laboratories president and chief executive Jack Khattar and aims to develop products for its own portfolio and in partnership with other pharmaceutical companies.

Mr Khattar said: “Our decision to acquire SLI’s [Shire Laboratories] product formulation and development business was based on SLI’s success and proven track record in developing advanced products? utilising its unique technology platforms and capabilities.

“We will be applying those same technology platforms and capabilities to build our own pipeline of specialty products and to continue to support our partners.”

The main technologies that Supernus has under its belt are ProScreen and OptiScreen for lead selection and formulation optimisation, and the oral controlled release technologies Microtrol, Solutrol and EnSoTrol.

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