HARLEYSVILLE, Pennsylvania, April 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorcon, Inc. today announced the acquisition of the full-service pharmaceutical excipient company, NP Pharm, a Division of Ethypharm. This acquisition expands Colorcon's global excipient product offerings in the pharmaceutical and nutritional markets.

The addition of NP Pharm SUGLETS(R) sugar spheres complements Colorcon's SureSpheres(R) sugar spheres product line and barrier membrane systems for multiparticulates. Colorcon will now have two production facilities for sugar spheres offering critical business continuity planning for their customer base. ETHISPHERES(R) microcrystalline cellulose pellets, NPTAB(R) neutral pellets for direct compression, and other excipient products are also added to the Colorcon product portfolio as a result of this acquisition.

The headquarters and main production facilities of NP Pharm, located in Bazainville, France, will become an integral part of the Colorcon network of manufacturing sites.

William Motzer, Colorcon Chief Executive Officer states, We are excited about this opportunity to expand Colorcon's product offerings and leverage our global distribution, technical service and sales infrastructure.

Newly appointed Chairman and CEO of the Management Board of Ethypharm, Hugues Lecat states, We are delighted to see NP Pharm join Colorcon, Inc. The new shareholder will permit NP Pharm to reinforce its development and growth projects. This divestiture will enable us to go on investing in the growth of Ethypharm, in line with our strategy. Ethypharm will continue to invest in its RD sites, notably that of Grand Quevilly, France, our most recent state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, in which we have invested over 15 million Euros over the last two years.

About Colorcon, Inc.

Colorcon is a world leader in the development, supply and technical support of formulated film coating systems, modified release technologies, and functional excipients for the pharmaceutical industry. Our best-in-class products and technologies are complemented by our value-added services, which support all phases of solid oral dose design and development.

About Ethypharm

Ethypharm is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies dedicated to the development of innovative medicines. Its patented technologies offer multiple benefits for patients by improving efficacy, administration, compliance, and reducing side-effects. Ethypharm provides its clients with solutions for the life cycle management of their drugs. The company has one of the broadest portfolios of technologies to become the worldwide privileged partner of pharmaceutical companies. Ethypharm offers customized solutions for the development of the medicines of the future.

SOURCE: Colorcon, Inc.

CONTACT: Diane Reitter, Global Communication Director, +1-215-661-2639,dreitter@colorcon.com