News|Articles|March 12, 2014

DPx Launched as Provider of Pharmaceutical Services, Fine Chemicals, and Proprietary Technologies

Author(s)Melanie Sena

$2.6 billion transaction combines Patheon and DSM Pharmaceutical to create CDMO, DPx.

DPx Holdings is a new CDMO for the pharmaceutical and related industries, formed from a $2.65 billion transaction between JLL Partners, a private equity firm, and Royal DSM, a life-sciences and materials sciences company. DPx is 51% owned by JLL Partners and 49% by Royal DSM.

Formerly known by its provisional name “NewCo,” DPx is the corporate parent of a group of business units that is comprised of three brands focused on pharmaceutical services, fine chemicals and products, and proprietary technologies. These units are the result of combining DSM Pharmaceutical Products (DPP), Patheon, and Banner Life Sciences.

Pharmaceutical services will operate under the Patheon brand name and include the CMO capabilities, pharmaceutical product development services, as well as biosolutions and biologics businesses of DPP. In addition, fine chemicals, or the ES/IM and API businesses, will operate under the brand name DSM Fine Chemicals, while proprietary products and technologies will operate under Banner Life Sciences.

DSM Fine Chemicals will also handle complicated APIs and finished dosage forms, and Banner Life Sciences will offer its own proprietary and nutraceutical products to the market.

DPx’s 2014 sales are expected to be about $2 billion (pro-forma). DPx has 24 locations across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia with more than 8000 employees.

Source: DPx Holdings


Related to this article

PharmTech Weekly Roundup—October 2, 2026
This week on PharmTech, Merck diversified its pipeline, USP emphasizes supply chain security, AI systems are examined, and speakers preview their presentations at CPHI Milan and AAPS PharmSci 360.
CPHI Milan 2026: Nitrosamine Risk Mitigation, Part 1
Capsugel's Bram Baert and Sandrine Picco argue that chasing zero nitrite in pharmaceutical excipients is often impractical and costly. They recommend setting scientifically justified, risk-based limits and consistently staying below them.
Regulatory Roundup—September 2026
The FDA opened an expedited IND pilot, tightened scrutiny of foreign trial data, and finalized a rule recognizing non-animal testing methods. In Europe, the EMA advanced pharmaceutical legislation reform, restricted 2 legacy products, and opened an injectable-iron safety review.