Patheon acquires API manufacturer IRIX

Contract development and manufacturing company Patheon on Wednesday announced the acquisition of IRIX Pharmaceuticals, based in Florence, South Carolina.

"This is a strategic deal that allows us to help customers solve complex challenges with comprehensive, integrated solutions," IRIX CEO Guy Steenrod said.

IRIX specializes in making difficult-to-manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for drugs from early to late development, all the way through to commercial launch. With the acquisition of IRIX, Patheon will begin a North American presence for comprehensive API development and manufacturing in order to address their customers’ most challenging needs for drugs in all development phases.

Together, Patheon and IRIX will provide an assortment of cutting-edge process technologies, including biocatalysis, homogeneous catalysis and microreactors, and they will be able to address a series of supply chain problems for clients.

"With this deal we expand our Patheon OneSource integrated offering and leverage years of operational experience and scientific excellence at IRIX to complement Patheon's existing API operations in Europe," DPx Fine Chemicals President Lukas Utiger said.

This acquisition follows Patheon’s purchase of its first U.S. biologics plants last year and its start on a major build-out at its North Carolina facility. IRIX has manufacturing facilities in Greenville and Florence, South Carolina, and has abilities to create and manufacture APIs for high-potency drugs and Schedule 1 through 4 controlled substances.