Catalent Pharma Solutions, a Somerset, N.J.-based global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, is collaborating with Valerion Therapeutics, a Concord, Mass.-based emerging science-driven company focused on the development of bio-therapeutics for orphan genetic diseases, to develop Valerion's two lead product candidates.

The collaboration will focus on the delivery of muscle-protein fusions, and treatment of multiple indications in the fields of muscular dystrophies, glycogen storage diseases, myopathies and enzyme-deficiency disorders.

Catalent will provide all cell line engineering, process development and cGMP biomanufacturing activities associated with the two lead products, which utilize a novel antibody-based targeting system, capable of enhanced intracellular delivery of functional proteins, oligonucleotides and small molecules. Should initial studies prove successful, the therapies will be produced at Catalent's state-of-the-art Madison, Wis., site.