Belgian CDMO/CRO Ardena has announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Catalent’s oral drug product manufacturing facility in Somerset, New Jersey, marking a milestone in Ardena’s strategic expansion into North America.
The deal, which was first announced in October, will enable Ardena to strengthen its capabilities in late-stage and small-scale commercial manufacturing of oral drug products and further integrate its suite of drug development services. Ardena already has established locations in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The New Jersey facility encompasses over 50,000-square-feet of CGMP manufacturing space and employs 200+ scientists and technicians. It is a recognized ‘Center of Excellence’ for advanced oral dosage forms, specializing in modified-release formulations, hot melt extrusion for enhanced bioavailability, and the handling of controlled substances.
Additionally, Ardena has announced the expansion of its bioanalytical services in North America by opening a new bioanalytical lab at the Somerset facility. The initial investment will include a new 2,500-square-foot lab, expected to be operational by Q3 2025, providing advanced analytical testing services for both small and large molecules, mirroring Ardena’s European capabilities in immunochemistry, LC-MS/MS, flow cytometry, and qPCR platforms. The lab will provide enhanced support for global clinical trials programs.
The facility is one of over 50 global manufacturing sites included in the $16.5 billion deal with Novo Holdings, parent company to Novo Nordisk, announced back in February. Key to the deal was Novo Holdings plans to sell Catalent's three fill-finish sites acquired in the merger - Anagni, Italy; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; and Brussels, Belgium — to subsidiary Novo Nordisk for an upfront payment of $11 billion.