Codis buys Catalent Nottingham Facility to expand UK CDMO capacity

UK—Catalent is reshaping its manufacturing and commercial strategy through two separate deals that highlight its focus on streamlining operations while strengthening support for advanced therapies.

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) has agreed to sell one of its U.K. facilities to Codis and has expanded its collaboration with Nanoscope Therapeutics to support the commercial launch of an investigational gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases.

Codis strengthens European manufacturing footprint

Under the agreement, Codis will acquire Catalent’s oral solid dose development and manufacturing facility in Nottingham, England, for an undisclosed sum.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will expand Codis’ portfolio by adding capabilities in oral solid-dose development and small-scale commercial manufacturing, allowing the company to provide an integrated process from formulation development and clinical supply to commercial manufacturing of finished oral dosage forms.

The Nottingham site also supports Codis’ commercial spray-drying operations in Haverhill, U.K., where the company is increasing capacity by installing a new GEA Pharma-SD PSD-4 commercial spray dryer, with validation planned for 2027.

Together, the two facilities are expected to strengthen Codis’ position in spray drying, amorphous solid dispersions, and particle engineering.

“This strategic acquisition will further establish Codis as a leading European provider of comprehensive spray dry solutions,” said Nicolas Fortin, Chief Executive Officer of Codis.

He added that integrating formulation development with GMP manufacturing would reduce development risks and accelerate the transition from laboratory-scale work to commercial production.

The Nottingham facility brings more than two decades of expertise in formulation development, clinical supply, and spray-drying technologies.

Codis also operates manufacturing sites in St. Louis, Missouri, and Seymour, Indiana.

Catalent, which was acquired by Novo Holdings in 2024 for US$16.5 billion, will continue to operate four manufacturing plants across the U.K., alongside its clinical trial supply facility in Scotland.

Catalent broadens support for Nanoscope’s lead gene therapy

Separately, Catalent has expanded its long-standing collaboration with Dallas-based Nanoscope Therapeutics to support the late-stage clinical development and future commercial supply of MCO-010, the company’s lead optogenetic gene therapy candidate.

Optogenetic gene therapy combines gene delivery with light-based activation to restore cellular function.

The approach uses a harmless viral vector to introduce genes encoding light-sensitive proteins into targeted retinal cells.

These proteins can then be activated by specific wavelengths of light to restore vision in patients with inherited retinal disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease.

As part of the expanded agreement, Catalent will provide commercially compliant packaging and global distribution services for MCO-010.

The company has also completed commercial packaging validation to support Nanoscope’s rolling biologics submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), positioning the therapy for potential commercialization if approved.

“As we continue to manufacture MCO-010 commercial drug product, having a packaging partner who can scale with us to meet the needs of global commercialization is essential,” said Sulagna Bhattacharya, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nanoscope Therapeutics.

She noted that Catalent’s manufacturing expertise and dependable supply capabilities would support the company’s preparations for worldwide commercial launch.