Molex Completes Vectura Acquisition, Boosting Drug Delivery Expertise

Molex, the parent company of Phillips Medisize, has finalised the acquisition of Vectura Group Ltd. (Vectura) through one of its affiliates. This acquisition, previously announced, comes from Vectura Fertin Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Philip Morris International Inc. Phillips Medisize is renowned for its innovative pharmaceutical drug delivery systems, in vitro diagnostics, and medtech solutions. With Vectura now part of its portfolio, Phillips Medisize broadens its offerings to include formulation, device design, combination product development, and manufacturing services.

Paul Chaffin, President of Phillips Medisize, said, “Phillips Medisize will continue to expand the services we offer pharmaceutical companies thanks to the acquisition of Vectura, particularly in inhalation, to help meet growing patient needs. Phillips Medisize and Vectura are uniquely positioned to collaborate with leading pharmaceutical customers to develop innovative products that address the growing global demand for new therapies to treat chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD, as well as non-respiratory conditions.”

Vectura brings innovative technologies and expertise in inhalation drug delivery systems, including dry powder inhalers (DPI) such as the Lever Operated Multi-dose Inhaler (LOMI) and Gyrohaler™ platforms, metered dose inhalers (MDI), nasal inhalers, and nebulisers like the FOX™ device. The company also offers pharmaceutical analysis, process development, clinical trial supplies, and regulatory support. This acquisition significantly strengthens Phillips Medisize’s pharmaceutical R&D and inhalation drug delivery solution capabilities.

“The Vectura team is delighted with the completion of the acquisition. We are excited about the opportunities and scale of Phillips Medisize, which will allow us to deliver our formulation and combination product expertise to more pharmaceutical customers as part of end-to-end pharmaceutical development,” said Dr Geraldine Venthoye, who has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President for the Phillips Medisize Medical business. 

As a trusted global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), Phillips Medisize specialises in creating advanced healthcare products that save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide. With the addition of Vectura, the company expands its team by approximately 350 employees, bringing the total workforce to over 6,000, including more than 1,200 engineers and scientists. This enhanced team will collaborate across 30 global sites spanning three continents, delivering its clients comprehensive design, development, formulation, and manufacturing services.

Joe Nelligan, CEO of Molex, which acquired Phillips Medisize in 2016, commented, “The acquisition of Vectura reflects our commitment to advancing industry-leading medical capabilities for our customers. Phillips Medisize and Vectura will unlock significant growth potential to support the growing need for inhalation therapies.”