Patheon Selected by Grünenthal to Develop Drugs Using INTAC(R) Abuse-Deterrent Formulations Technology

Patheon, the leading global provider of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services today announced it has signed a strategic agreement with Grünenthal, an independent, family-owned, international research-based pharmaceutical group headquartered in Aachen, Germany to serve as its preferred development partner for its products made using Grünenthal’s innovative abuse-deterrent formulation technology INTAC®.

Patheon was selected to assist with the development of advanced INTAC®-based products, including single-entity and fixed-dose combination solid oral dosage forms with immediate and modified release properties. INTAC® is Grünenthal’s proprietary technology designed to reduce the potential for abuse of controlled substances.

As part of the agreement, Grünenthal has agreed to install specialized equipment in Patheon’s Cincinnati manufacturing site. Through their partnership, Grünenthal and Patheon will partner to offer new solutions to the broader pharmaceutical industry. This concept of locating equipment in a Patheon facility – “condo model” – allows clients to benefit from Patheon’s process, people and infrastructure to simplify manufacturing.

“This agreement is a tangible example of the deeper, collaborative relationships we are pursuing and winning with clients,” said Mike Lehmann, executive vice president, global sales and marketing. “Over the past several years we have built a business to meet the needs of a breadth of clients – from emerging pharma companies to large multinationals.

This collaboration brings together Grünenthal’s innovative approach to research and development and the specialized technical manufacturing capabilities of Patheon to bring novel therapies to the marketplace for the patients who need them.

“It is recognized in the healthcare industry that,” said Dr. Klaus-Dieter Langner, Chief Scientific Officer Grünenthal Group, “prescription drug abuse is an issue of growing concern in the United States. Typically it is opioids, CNS depressants and stimulants that are the three most established drug classes that are abused. Novel formulation technologies will help reduce that abuse potential.”

With its innovative abuse-deterrent formulation technology platform, INTAC®, Grünenthal is leading the field with already several FDA-approved opioid products utilizing this unique technology which confers outstanding crush resistance of drug matrix and raises hurdles against prescription drug abuse. Grünenthal considers INTAC® to be a leading technology for tamper-resistant opioid products. Grünenthal has expanded the INTAC® platform beyond extended release formulations to immediate release as well as modified release dosage forms of single-entity and fixed-dose combination products. This allows Grünenthal to offer this technology now for a broader variety of drugs and abuse- deterrent applications. More information: www.intac.grunenthal.com

The Grünenthal Group is an independent, family-owned, international research-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Aachen, Germany. Grünenthal is an entrepreneurial specialist delivering true benefits to patients. By sustainably investing in research and development above the industrial average, we are committing to innovation in order to treat unmet medical needs and bring value-adding products to markets. Grünenthal is a fully integrated research & development company with a long track record of bringing innovative pain treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients.

Altogether, the Grünenthal Group is with affiliates present in 32 countries in Europe, Latin America and the US. Grünenthal products are sold in more than 155 countries and approx. 5,300 employees are working for the Grünenthal Group worldwide. In 2014, Grünenthal achieved revenues of € 1.154 bn. For more information, visit www.grunenthal.com

Patheon is a leading global provider of outsourced pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services. With approximately 8,700 employees worldwide, Patheon provides a comprehensive, integrated and highly customizable set of solutions to help customers of all sizes satisfy complex development and manufacturing needs at any stage of the pharmaceutical development cycle. For more information, visit www.patheon.com.