Roquette boosts excipient portfolio with completed IFF Pharma Solutions acquisition

Roquette has bolstered its footprint in the pharmaceutical sector with the completion of its acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions, cementing its status as a major supplier of plant-based excipients and drug-delivery technologies.

The deal, first announced in March of last year, follows Roquette’s purchase of Qualicaps in 2023 and underscores a broader strategy to penetrate high-growth markets in health and nutrition.

Roquette emphasizes that by acquiring IFF Pharma Solutions, the company gains access to a range of innovative products that enhance tablet, capsule, and oral-liquid formulations. These include proprietary carriers and solubilization excipients designed to improve active ingredient bioavailability and streamline manufacturing processes for drug makers around the world.

“The successful acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions marks a major step forward in our value-creation journey,” says Pierre Courduroux, CEO of Roquette. “This pivotal move aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to provide innovative, high-quality excipients that improve the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical formulations.”

“By combining our strengths, Roquette is poised to become the pharmaceutical industry’s go-to partner for the development of drug delivery solutions that contribute to improving, sustaining, and saving patients’ lives.”

Erik Fyrwald, IFF’s CEO, touts the benefits of the divestiture, stating: “The completion of our Pharma Solutions divestiture represents a significant milestone for IFF as we delivered our targeted net debt to credit-adjusted EBITDA of below 3.0. This is an important step as it allows us to focus on our core strategy — capitalizing on the exciting growth opportunities within our key businesses — as we maximize long-term value for our shareholders.”

Future outlook

Roquette states that adding IFF Pharma Solutions’ technical know-how and customer partnerships strengthens its end-to-end capabilities — from initial formulation support to commercial-scale production.

Moreover, the company highlights that the combined organization allows Roquette to offer a more integrated portfolio of solutions, helping pharmaceutical clients accelerate development timelines and ensure consistent quality at scale.

Additionally, the move positions Roquette to compete more directly with legacy excipient suppliers by leveraging its plant-based expertise and sustainability credentials. It also aligns with the growing demand for clean label pharmaceutical ingredients as regulators and healthcare providers seek greener and more traceable supply chains.