OctoPlus

In 1995, from the biotech hub of Leiden in the Netherlands, two founders, Joost Holthuis and Daan Crommelin, started a company with a specific focus. That company was OctoPlus, a specialty pharmaceutical firm centered on the complex world of drug delivery. Their business was not about discovering new blockbuster drugs, but rather a more nuanced play: developing and manufacturing advanced, injectable formulations of new and existing medicines for other pharmaceutical companies. They built expertise in creating controlled-release and difficult-to-formulate products, helping partners move from the lab to the clinic. This strategy led them to a public listing on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange, a significant step for the Dutch company. The pivotal chapter in the OctoPlus story came in late 2012. Indian pharmaceutical giant Dr. Reddy's Laboratories announced it would acquire OctoPlus for around €27.4 million. For Dr. Reddy's, this wasn't just a purchase; it was a strategic move to acquire specialized technological capabilities and establish a research base in the heart of the European biotech scene. By 2013, the deal was complete, and OctoPlus was integrated, becoming a key research center for complex injectables for its new parent company.