European pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) NextPharma has signed an agreement with Cencora, a US-based pharmaceutical solutions company, to sell its healthcare logistics services arm, NextPharma Logistics GmbH.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

The divestment marks a key step in NextPharma’s strategy to sharpen its focus on core operations in commercial manufacturing and product development, strengthening its position as a leading European CDMO. NextPharma Logistics business - which provides pre-wholesaling and logistics services for a range of pharmaceutical and animal health clients from facilities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - has been identified as non-core to the company’s long-term strategy.

Commenting on the development, Christian Pieper, Managing Director of NextPharma Logistics, said, “We are very proud of the development and expansion of our business under NextPharma, and we are excited by the opportunities of further developing and growing the business with the Cencora team, leveraging their global expertise, resources, and network to drive continued success.”

Peter Burema, CEO of NextPharma, added, “We are extremely pleased that we have found an attractive partner to whom to divest our healthcare logistics services business, which is non-core and has no overlap with our core commercial manufacturing and product development business. We know the business will continue to flourish and wish Christian and the whole NextPharma Logistics team every success in their new chapter.”

He noted that for both employees and customers, operations will continue as usual until the transaction is completed.

As part of its growth strategy, NextPharma has been investing heavily across its network to enhance its CDMO capabilities. Recent developments include the expansion of its centre of excellence in Limay, France, specialising in liquid dosage forms, and a significant upgrade to its Tampere, Finland facility, focused on ophthalmic product development and manufacturing.

NextPharma currently operates ten sites across Europe — five in Germany, two in France, and one each in Finland, Norway, and Scotland. Its expertise spans solids, semi-solids, and sterile and non-sterile liquids, offering end-to-end services from pharmaceutical development and clinical supplies to full-scale commercial manufacturing and packaging in a variety of formats including blisters, bottles, sachets, stick packs, and tubes.