Pharmaceuticals Acquisitions in New Jersey

Aptar Pharma has acquired the Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial materials manufacturing capabilities of Mod3 Pharma (formerly Enteris Biopharma) from SWK Holdings. The deal adds cGMP fill-and-finish, high-potency API suites and biologics capabilities at a Boonton, New Jersey facility to Aptar's drug delivery and early-stage development services to accelerate adoption of its delivery technologies.

Johnson & Johnson has completed its acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, adding the approved drug CAPLYTA (lumateperone) and a clinical-stage neuroscience pipeline to J&J's Innovative Medicine business. The deal is expected to accelerate J&J's 2025 sales growth and strengthen its leadership in neuroscience and mental health therapeutics.

Whitehawk Therapeutics has completed the divestiture of Aadi Subsidiary, Inc. to KAKEN Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for $100 million in cash plus customary adjustments. KAKEN assumes ownership of the Aadi Bioscience name, trademarks and the FYARRO business; Whitehawk expects to use proceeds (together with a recent $100M PIPE) to fund its ADC pipeline and extend its cash runway into 2028.

Olympus Partners has acquired PAI Pharma, a leading U.S. developer, manufacturer and distributor of generic oral liquid medicines. The platform was previously owned by Enhanced Healthcare Partners and Bourne Partners Strategic Capital; terms were not disclosed and Monroe Capital provided senior financing for the deal.

Experic, a Cranbury, New Jersey-based CDMO and clinical trial supply services firm, received a growth capital investment led by 1315 Capital with participation from existing investors East Seattle Partners, Harro Höfliger Packaging Systems, Inc., and Kineticos Ventures. The capital will be used to enhance Experic’s manufacturing capabilities and accelerate its international expansion to better serve biopharmaceutical clients.

Ardena, a GHO Capital-backed CDMO, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Catalent's FDA-approved drug product manufacturing facility in Somerset, New Jersey. The acquisition — expected to close in early 2025 subject to approvals — expands Ardena's US footprint and downstream capabilities in oral solid dosage manufacturing and bioanalytical services.

Actylis has acquired Pharm-Rx, a Saddle Brook, New Jersey-based supplier of specialty ingredients for the vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS), OTC and pharmaceutical markets. The deal expands Actylis' nutrition and OTC capabilities and supplier partnerships; Pharm-Rx will continue to operate under its brand and Mark Bostel will become President, Global Nutrition and OTC for Actylis. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Funds managed by Hamilton Lane have acquired a significant equity interest in Cosette Pharmaceuticals from Avista Capital Partners and its co-investors. Avista and Hamilton Lane will jointly control Cosette as the company strengthens its balance sheet to accelerate R&D, product innovation and future M&A activity.

Cosette Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. specialty pharmaceutical company backed by Avista Healthcare Partners, has acquired the Vyleesi (bremelanotide) product and related intellectual property from Palatin Technologies. The deal transfers five Orange Book-listed patents (protection through 2041) and aims to expand Cosette’s women's health portfolio while ensuring continued patient access during the transition.

Noramco has completed the acquisition of the Cambrex Drug Product Business Unit (previously Halo Pharmaceuticals), adding drug product formulation development, clinical and commercial manufacturing, and packaging capabilities from sites in Mirabel, Québec and Whippany, New Jersey. The purchase expands Noramco's service offering beyond APIs, brings nearly 400 employees into the Noramco group, and represents Cambrex's strategic divestiture to focus on its drug substance and analytical testing businesses.

Advent International and Warburg Pincus completed the acquisition of Baxter International's BioPharma Solutions (BPS) business for $4.25 billion in cash, creating a standalone CDMO named Simtra BioPharma Solutions. Simtra will operate manufacturing sites in Bloomington, Indiana and Halle, Germany, establish a corporate headquarters in New Jersey, and employ approximately 1,700 people to provide sterile contract manufacturing and parenteral delivery services to pharma and biotech customers.

Azurity Pharmaceuticals has completed the acquisition of Slayback Pharma LLC from existing investors including KKR and Everstone Capital, making Slayback a wholly owned subsidiary of Azurity. The deal expands Azurity's R&D and complex formulation capabilities and accelerates its pipeline for new medicine launches as part of its growth strategy under majority owner QHP Capital.

Alfasigma S.p.A agreed to acquire Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in an all-cash transaction of US$19.00 per share via a cash tender offer, representing an 82% premium to Intercept's September 25, 2023 closing price. The deal expands Alfasigma’s gastroenterology and hepatology portfolio (including Ocaliva) and strengthens its presence in the U.S.; the transaction was expected to close by the end of 2023.

RK Pharma Inc., a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company based in Pearl River, New York, has completed the acquisition of VGYAAN Pharmaceuticals LLC, a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Skillman, New Jersey. The deal brings VGYAAN's product portfolio and experienced management team into RK Pharma's vertically integrated platform, enhancing capabilities across complex product development, APIs and finished-dosage manufacturing; terms were not disclosed.

Symeres, a Netherlands-headquartered transatlantic CRO/CDMO majority‑owned by Keensight Capital, has acquired Exemplify BioPharma, a Cranbury, New Jersey-based CMC-focused CRO. The deal strengthens Symeres' capabilities in process and analytical chemistry and formulation development and further expands its strategic foothold in the United States.

Halozyme Therapeutics will acquire Antares Pharma for $5.60 per share in cash, valuing Antares at approximately $960 million. The deal, approved unanimously by both boards, is intended to expand Halozyme's drug delivery capabilities by adding Antares' auto-injector platform and commercial specialty products and is expected to be accretive to Halozyme's 2022 revenue and non-GAAP earnings.

APNAR Pharma LP, a privately owned pharmaceutical company based in Chino, California, has acquired East Windsor, New Jersey–based Aurex Laboratories. The deal adds US FDA–approved finished dosage manufacturing capabilities to APNAR’s platform, expanding its U.S. footprint, pipeline capacity and contract manufacturing capabilities to support APNAR’s ANDAs and third‑party partners.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has made a strategic equity investment in Rising Pharma Holdings and Casper Pharma (together, Rising Pharmaceuticals) to support the company's growth, M&A activity and new product launches. Rising Pharmaceuticals is an asset-light developer and marketer of generic and specialty pharmaceuticals based in New Jersey with a diversified portfolio of over 125 products and a network of 23+ CMO/CDO partners.

Alora Pharmaceuticals, LLC closed the acquisition of Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc's legacy U.S. business (including Osmotica Pharmaceutical US LLC, Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Trigen Laboratories, LLC) and the Marietta, Georgia manufacturing facility on August 27, 2021. Osmotica received approximately $111 million in proceeds, which it said would be used to retire a substantial portion of outstanding debt and to focus the company on its ophthalmic product UPNEEQ.

Aztiq Pharma Partners completed a $100 million financing to acquire a newly issued 17% equity stake in Alvogen US at a pre-money valuation of $350 million, with Morgan Stanley leading the financing. The funding will support increased R&D investment and expansion of branded sales channels in the U.S., and following the transaction Aztiq holds a combined direct and indirect stake of approximately 40% in Alvogen US.

Signet Healthcare Partners, a New York-based growth equity firm, has made a growth equity investment in Ascendia Pharmaceuticals, a North Brunswick, New Jersey-based specialty CDMO. The proceeds will fund Ascendia's facility expansion and increased manufacturing capacity; Signet principals James Gale and Dr. Theron Odlaug will join Ascendia's board.

ANI Pharmaceuticals completed the acquisition of Novitium Pharma for $163.5 million (including $89.5M cash and $74M equity, plus up to $46.5M in contingent earn-outs), adding a U.S.-based R&D engine and CDMO manufacturing capacity. The deal, financed with a new $300M Term Loan B, a $40M revolver and a $25M PIPE investment from Ampersand Capital Partners, is expected to be immediately accretive and expand ANI's generics, contract manufacturing and 505(b)(2) capabilities.

Belgium-based biopharma UCB has acquired Summit, New Jersey-based Engage Therapeutics for an upfront cash payment of US$125 million plus up to US$145 million in milestone payments, gaining worldwide rights to Staccato Alprazolam. The acquisition adds a late-stage, drug-device rescue therapy candidate for epilepsy to UCB's neurology portfolio and includes updated license and supply agreements with Alexza Pharmaceuticals.

BioPharmX Corporation (NYSE American: BPMX) entered into a definitive merger agreement with Timber Pharmaceuticals LLC whereby a BioPharmX subsidiary will merge into Timber, leaving Timber as a wholly‑owned subsidiary of BioPharmX. The transaction will bring at least $20 million of financing to the combined company, after which BioPharmX will change its name to Timber Pharmaceuticals and Timber’s management will become the combined company's leadership.