By Barry Teater
Two companies in the drug-development industry, each with operations in Durham, have merged, forming a larger and more integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) to serve the topical and transdermal pharmaceuticals sector.
MedPharm Ltd., based in Guildford, United Kingdom, joined with Durham-based Tergus Pharma to establish “a leading, end-to-end CDMO with robust scientific, clinical trial manufacturing and commercial production capabilities,” the companies announced in a news release. The newly formed company will operate under the MedPharm name.
The strategic combination will enable commercial production, serialization, formulation development, in vitro testing and clinical manufacturing within one integrated organization. Expanded capabilities will also include the development and manufacture of hormone-based and highly potent drugs at the company’s GMP (good manufacturing practices) manufacturing facility in Durham.
Michael Kane, chief executive officer of Tergus Pharma, will fill the same role at MedPharm, while Patrick Walsh will continue to serve as MedPharm’s executive chairman.
“This strategic partnership is an exciting opportunity to deliver extensive pharmaceutical product development resources fueled by a robust team of scientific experts while leveraging our cutting-edge topical GMP facility to seamlessly meet our customers’ commercial production needs,” Kane said. “With locations in both the United Kingdom and the United States, we are well positioned to provide exceptional support to our existing and prospective pharmaceutical clients.”
MedPharm has about 300 pharmaceutical clients worldwide, according to the company’s website. It has contributed to the development and approval of 85 marketed products for clients around the globe, including the United States, Europe and Japan.
The company specializes in product development for dermal, transdermal, lung, nasal, mucosal membrane, ungual, otic and ophthalmic delivery of drugs.
“Pharma clients have been seeking a reliable, integrated service offering for their ophthalmic, topical and transdermal development and manufacturing projects,” Walsh said. “This merger creates an immediate option with two organizations already well-positioned in the industry.”
MedPharm was founded in 2006 in Guildford, England, a town about 27 miles southeast of London. It established a presence in Durham in 2015 and in 2020 expanded its facilities there to accommodate 100 employees.
Tergus Pharma brings to the partnership expertise in supporting topical pharmaceutical product research, formulation, drug development, testing, and clinical and commercial manufacturing. It specializes in topical semi-solids and liquids for skin, nasal, otic, ophthalmic, vaginal and rectal routes of drug delivery.
The company opened a new 100,000-square-foot facility in Durham in May 2021. In addition to corporate and administrative offices, the facility houses five research and development laboratories, plus six commercial GMP manufacturing suites, six filling and packaging suites, and two dedicated high-potent and hormonal suites.
Tergus Pharma and MedPharm are both backed by private equity firms. Tergus Pharma’s lead investor, Great Point Partners of Greenwich, Conn., will retain a minority ownership stake in the newly combined MedPharm, while private equity firms Ampersand Capital Partners of Wellesley, Mass., and Amsterdam, and Charlotte-based Bourne Partners Strategic Capital, will assume majority ownership.
