Catalent Pharma Solutions, the leading pharmaceutical development company, today announced it is to invest more than £20 million in its development and manufacturing site in Swindon, adding up to 100 jobs.
The site is home to the company’s Zydis® technology which allows for the manufacture of tablets that dissolve instantly in the mouth, without water, and is used in many prescription and over-the-counter medicines to treat conditions including Parkinson’s disease, allergies and travel sickness.
The investment will see the site almost double its manufacturing capacity for tablets, as it introduces a new variation called Zydis® Ultra technology, which significantly increases the dose that can be incorporated within a tablet and so the number of treatments that can benefit from this convenient and patient-friendly dose form.
“The medicines that we make in Swindon help patients all around the world to live better, healthier lives,” commented Peter Allen, General Manager of Catalent Swindon. “Zydis technology is incorporated into many prescription medicines and popular over-the-counter brands, and we are very proud of the scientific team that we have here that continues to develop this revolutionary technology, allowing us to expand and grow, and widen the number of potentially life-changing conditions it can treat.”
Catalent’s facility in Blagrove, Swindon employs over 650 people, and manufactures 1.2 billion individual doses of medicines for patients around the world each year. To date, more than 36 products have been launched using Zydis technology in more than 60 countries.
As well as the Zydis tablet development and manufacturing operation, the site also undertakes a number of other activities including pharmaceutical testing for many UK and international pharmaceutical companies.
Chair of Switch on to Swindon Jenny Groves added, “It’s fantastic to hear that Catalent are looking to expand their already hugely successful business in Swindon. Swindon prides itself on being consistently one of the most innovative places in the U.K. and the pharmaceuticals industry generally, and Catalent specifically, have played a huge part in this. Catalent are a successful global organisation offering exciting careers for the talent in and around Swindon and we’re hugely proud they’re part of our vibrant economy.”
