Catalent Pharma Solutions, a global development solutions and advanced drug delivery technologies company, and Biota Pharmaceuticals have allied to develop and provide filling and packaging capabilities to supply clinical trial materials of laninamivir octanoate, a first-in-class, inhaled, long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor being developed by Biota to treat influenza A and B viruses.

In 2012, Catalent began working with Biota on inhaled formulation feasibility studies and device filling and analytical support from its development and analytical facilities, located in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Catalent also provides clinical packaging services from its specialty Clinical Supply Services facility in Philadelphia, Penn., for Biota's dry powder inhaler, which is used to administer laninamivir octanoate.

Catalent has a range of development services across all inhaled dose forms and advances inhalation products to market. Catalent will invest $20 million to expand the capabilities of its Inhalation Center of Excellence, which will support customers such as Biota in meeting demand for advanced inhalation dose forms.