Bend, Oregon / Ludwigshafen, Germany – February 21, 2013 – BASF SE and Bend
Research Inc. have signed an agreement to jointly evaluate and develop novel
excipients to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
The companies plan to combine their world-leading expertise in the development of new
excipients and drug formulations to provide customers from the pharmaceutical industry
with early access to the latest polymer innovations. The aim of this collaboration is to
meet increasing challenges of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (BCS
Class II and IV compounds); the initial focus will be on optimizing new vinylpyrrolidone
based copolymers being developed for the solubilization of poorly soluble active
pharmaceutical ingredients.
"We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings to us and our
customers," said Rod Ray, CEO of Bend Research. "It offers early access to a different
set of chemistries and allows us to develop and test customer formulations based on
new polymers. BASF has an impressive track record developing and launching novel
excipients. This deal complements our recently announced collaboration on cellulosics,
because it gives us access to completely different chemistries."
"We are glad to bring our in-depth knowledge of polymeric excipients into this
collaboration – to jointly extend the current toolbox already comprising innovations like
Soluplus®,” said Ralf Fink, Vice President Global Marketing at BASF Pharma
Ingredients & Services business unit. “Coupled with Bend Research’s outstanding
strengths in formulation development, including spray-drying and hot-melt extrusion, we
are in a unique position to address urgent solubility challenges. With this partnership,
we help our customers with the development of drugs with poor bioavailability."
BASF has extensive ingredient formulation and material science expertise, as well as
world-class excipient products. Bend Research is the leading formulation development
and technology firm in the field of spray drying and has recently expanded capabilities in
hot-melt extrusion.
About Bend Research Inc.
For more than 35 years, Bend Research Inc. has worked with clients to create value by advancing new
medicines that improve human health and to solve their most difficult scientific and technical
problems. This success is based on the company’s ability to develop, advance, and commercialize
pharmaceutical technologies, which grow from a solid base of scientific and engineering fundamental
understanding. Bend Research Inc. provides several capabilities, including formulation and dosage-form
support, assists in process development and optimization, manufactures clinical trial quantities of drug
candidates in its cGMP facilities, and advances promising drug candidates from conception through
commercialization. The company is a leader in novel formulations, including spray-dried dispersions and
hot-melt extrusion formulations, as well as controlled-release, inhalation, and biotherapeutics
technologies. With more than 285 employees, Bend Research Inc. is based in six state-of-the-art facilities
in Bend, Oregon, USA.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from
chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine
economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation
we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our
products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition
and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose:
We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had
more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges
in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the
Internet at http://www.basf.com.
Press Contacts:
Bend Research Inc.
Phoenix Barringer
+1-541-382-4100
phoenix.barringer@bendresearch.com
BASF SE
Andres Christian Orthofer
+41 27 766 1606
andres-christian.orthofer@basf.com