Wyckoff Chemical Acquisition Expands Catalytica Pharmaceutical Capacity

Catalytica, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wyckoff Chemical Co. (South Haven, MI), a manufacturer of pharmaceutical active ingredients, for $60/share. The acquisition more than doubles the rector capacity at the Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc., subsidiary, giving it the heft to produce high-volume ingredients for global pharmaceutical giants. It also provides additional chemical process development and pilot plant capabilities.

"With a combined chemical reactor capacity of over 100,000 (reactor) gallons, we will be one of the largest cGMP chemical manufacturers providing FDA approved products to the pharmaceutical industry," says Catalytica president/CEO Ricardo Levy.

Catalytica operates a total of 40,000 gal of chemical manufacturing capacity at its Greenville, NC, facility. This includes 12 production units with reactors ranging from 300 to 2,000 gal. It also offers several smaller reactors down to 5 gal. The company blends, grinds, and mills products ranging from liquids to powders and crystals. It uses Provox Systems distributed controls to monitor, assess, and control production.

Catalytica will acquire Wyckoff Chemical, a producer of active ingredients for pharmaceuticals. The acquisition more than doubles Catalytica's rector capacity, adds a pilot plant, and provides additional chemical process development capabilities.

Wyckoff's facility recently completed an 18,000-gal addition to its 52,000-gal reactor capacity, bringing total capacity to 70,000 gal (including a small pilot plant).

Catalytica entered the business in 1993, when it formed Catalytica Fine Chemicals, Inc. to acquire a Bay View fine chemicals facility from Sandoz Argo Inc. Two years ago, it purchased the former Burroughs Wellcome Co.'s Greenville, NC, manufacturing facility from Glaxo Wellcome, Inc. With the new addition, Catalytica renamed its business Catalytica Pharmaceuticals.

Today, Catalytica Pharmaceuticals provides a broad array of chemical-related services to the pharmaceutical industry. These include:

• development of chemical processes and formulations;
  
• production of material for clinical trials;
  
• and chemical, pharmaceutical, and sterile manufacturing.

The company's pharmaceutical production operations turn active ingredients and excipients into finished dosages of solids, ointments, and creams and liquids. It also produces cytotoxics and small batches of finished products.

The company also operates two sterile production centers capable of making liquid injectables, freeze-dried formulations, biologicals, drop dose, form-fill-and-seal, ophthalmics and otic preparations.

The company bills its freestanding, 360,400 sq ft sterile production facility as the most technologically sophisticated of its kind in the world. Built in the early 1990s, FDA approved it for production of Glaxo Wellcome's Tracrium, Mivacron, and Zovirax pharmaceuticals. The facility uses computer controls, automated verification, and automated guided vehicles to reduce contamination and automated product storage and retrieval.

Catalytica Pharmaceuticals has targeted its product research and development operation for rapid growth in 1999. The organization helps companies develop products, conduct research, and handle regulatory affairs. Catalytica had planned to expand its scientific staff to 150, from 130, by the end of 1999.

Development facilities include 55,000 sq. ft for nonsteriles research, 10,900 sq. ft for steriles research, and 29,000 sq. ft of laboratory space for analytical R&D.

Wyckoff, with $35 million in sales in 1998, has an excellent track record, according to Catalytica Pharmaceuticals president/CEO Gabriel Cipau. "In addition to excellent chemical process development capabilities, their large chemical reactor capacity makes their operation one of the largest independent cGMP chemical manufacturing sites in the United States," says Cipau. Key Wyckoff customers include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mylan, Pfizer, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Schein, Schering Plough and Watson.

For more information: Simon Sellers, VP, Pharmaceutical Chemical Sales & Marketing, Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethel Hwy., Greenville, NC 27834. Phone: 252-758-3436. Fax: 252-707-7050.

By Alan S. Brown

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Products Manufactured By Wyckoff Chemical

• p-Aminohippuric Acid USP
  
• Amoxapine USP
  
• Benazepril Hydrochloride
  
• Benzonatate USP
  
• Diphenhydramine Citrate USP
  
• Fenoprofen Calcium
  
• Flurbiprofen USP
  
• Hydroxyurea USP
  
• Itraconazole
  
• Ketoconazole USP
  
• Ketoprofen USP
  
• Lidocaine USP
  
• Lidocaine Hydrochloride USP
  
• Loxapine Succinate USP
  
• 2-Methylresorcinol
  
• Meclofenamate Sodium USP
  
• Nortriptyline Hydrochloride USP
  
• Orphenadrine Citrate USP
  
• Oxaprozin
  
• Procainamide Hydrochloride USP
  
• Propranolol Hydrochloride USP
  
• Pyrilamine Maleate USP
  
• Selegiline Hydrochloride USP
  
• Terconazole
  
• Tetracaine Hydrochloride USP
  
• Tramadol Hydrochloride