Catalent Pharma Solutions, formerly Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services, has officially launched as an independent company. The Blackstone Group acquired the business from Cardinal Health in April 2007. Within the contract services industry, speculation has run rampant as to what the new entity would be named. According to a statement to the press, Catalent “was created to combine the ideas embodied by the words ‘catalyst’ and ‘talent.'”

The statement also pointed out that Catalent has a long heritage of dose form innovation, having commercialized softgel capsule technology and Liqui-Gel formulations, created the “fast dissolve” oral tablet category with Zydis, and introduced the vegetable-based capsule VegiCaps Soft. The company is also known for its child-resistant, senior-friendly and compliance-enhancing packaging designs.

“Catalent intimately understands the global challenges our customers face while developing and commercializing life-enhancing and life-saving drugs or innovative consumer health products,” said John Lowry, president and chief executive officers of Catalent Pharma Solutions. “By consistently providing our customers with the technologies, services and reliable solutions they have come to expect from us, we enable them to focus on their own core competencies.”