91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Marks 40 Years in Japan with New Investments and Country Leader
Somerset, N.J. & Kakegawa, Japan – July 1, 2014 — 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Pharma Solutions, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, now in its 40th year in the Japanese market, today announced that it has appointed Tadahiro Matsumura as Country Leader, Japan. In further announcements the company revealed that it is to open a dedicated laboratory at its Kakegawa, Japan, site to provide proof-of-concept support and feasibility studies for 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s proprietary Zydis® Orally Dispersible Tablet (ODT) technology and will also expand manufacturing capacity for its OptiGel Microâ„¢ softgel technology.
Based in 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s Tokyo office, Mr. Matsumura will have responsibility for driving growth through business development activities in Japan and the surrounding region, while ensuring the maintenance of high standards of operational excellence.
He brings more than 30 years of experience building and leading successful organizations, acquired through a variety of leadership positions in sales, marketing, product development and manufacturing. He started his career in 1983 at Procter & Gamble Healthcare as a product development supervisor, and also held marketing positions of increasing responsibility in the Japan business units of Wella. He joined Johnson & Johnson in 1994, where most recently he served as vice president of sales for vision care.
Mr. Matsumura has a degree in biological chemistry.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Matsumura to the team in Japan as we celebrate forty years in the Japanese market. He brings a wealth of experience of the Japanese pharmaceutical market and will be a great asset for our continued growth in the region†commented David Heyens, President of 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Asia Pacific. “Fast dissolve formulations are of unique importance in Japan and were pleased to announce our new Zydis laboratory which we plan to complete by August 2014, facilitating wider partnership with the Japanese pharmaceutical industry through local access to proof of concept and feasibility studies for 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s premier Zydis ODT technology.â€
Zydis ODT is a unique, freeze-dried oral dosage form that disperses in the mouth, requiring no water. In some cases this can enhance the performance of a drug and can also contribute towards better patient compliance.
The new Zydis laboratories, which will be officially opened as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations in September, is being constructed within the existing 107,000 sq ft Kakegawa facility, which is 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s Softgel manufacturing base in Japan.
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s OptiGel Microâ„¢ Technology utilizes a unique manufacturing process that, instead of forming softgels through a rotary die process, utilizes a droplet, streamline flow that results in spherical form capsules. These capsules can be sized from 1 – 7mm which allows for smaller capsules to be produced when compared to the traditional rotary die process.
ABOUT CATALENT
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Pharma Solutions is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. With over 90 years serving the industry, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable clinical and commercial product supply. 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ employs approximately 8,500 people, including over 1,000 scientists, at nearly 30 facilities across 5 continents and in fiscal 2013 generated more than $1.8 billion in annual revenue. 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ is headquartered in Somerset, N.J. For more information, visit www.catalent.com