1. In Vivo
  2. >>Manufacturing Focus

COVID To GLP-1: Catalent Plants Ride With Novo To Next Public Health Crisis

 
• By Bowman Cox

A complex transformation is underway as client proposes to acquire CDMO facilities that vaccinated the world against the COVID-19 pandemic for pivot to the obesity epidemic.

Wegovy pen
Time for the next big thing • Source: Shutterstock

Catalent, Inc’s big response to the COVID-19 pandemic proved its undoing, with the contract development and manufacturing organization’s eventual acquisition now pending by client Novo Nordisk A/S. But the story of Catalent’s demise is no cautionary tale about responding to public health crises. Far from it.

Key Takeaways

  • Novo’s proposed acquisition of Catalent is a reflection of the CDMO’s COVID cliff and the drug firm’s ‘remarkable’ obesity patient dynamic.

Under the Danish multinational’s banner, the three fill/finish plants Catalent ran to produce billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses will, under...

More from Manufacturing Focus

The Goldilocks Isotope: Perspective Therapeutics’ ‘Just Right’ Alpha Radiotherapeutic

 
• By David Wild

Thijs Spoor's bet on lead-212 is paying off as Perspective Therapeutics advances three clinical programs with promising early efficacy signals and a comprehensive manufacturing strategy.

Unpacking The Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Drug Pricing And Production

 
• By Ed Silverman

Big pharma plans to invest billions of dollars in US manufacturing to avoid tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration. However, the implementation of these plans may be delayed due to regulatory complexities and rising costs from tariffs, potentially impacting drug prices for consumers.

RESILIENCE Initiative Navigates The World Of Making Medicines Through VR Technology

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

The process of manufacturing medicines can often be complex, expensive and harmful to the environment. Initiatives like RESILIENCE UK are seeking to simplify this process, utilizing VR technology to create a more sustainable learning environment for both students and companies.

Q&A: Rentschler’s CEO On The CDMO’s Pivot Away From Cell And Gene Therapy And More

 
• By David Wild

Rentschler Biopharma CEO Benedikt von Braunmühl tells In Vivo about the CDMO's strategic decision to exit the cell and gene therapy manufacturing space.

More from In Vivo

Podcast: Scancell’s Cancer Vaccine Progress With NHS Partnership

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

In the latest podcast interview, Phil L'Huillier, CEO of Scancell, discussed the company's work in cancer vaccine development, and its selection as the first British biotech to be a part of the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad.

Geopolitical Volatility Not Dimming A Healthy Mid-Term Outlook For Life Sciences Deals

 
• By Ashley Yeo

New report by global law firm Taylor Wessing and Bayes Business School forecasts a steadily increasing volume of major life sciences M&A in the coming five years, but highlights concerns over cybersecurity and unrealistic valuations. Taylor Wessing partner Andrew Edge spoke to In Vivo.

Navigating the GLP-1 Opportunity In China: Strategic Imperatives For Western Pharma

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

The Chinese appetite for GLP-1s is noticeable. While the market opportunity for western pharma is huge, so are the strategic market access challenges, though not unsurmountable, L.E.K. Consulting told In Vivo.