Baton Rouge Pharma Firm Outperforms Industry Giants

SOLA Pharmaceuticals, the only FDA-approved manufacturer in Baton Rouge, produces affordable generics and specialty drugs nationwide.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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SOLA Pharmaceuticals, a 12-year-old Baton Rouge-based pharmaceutical company, has seen explosive growth by using meticulous, data-driven systems to rapidly identify and produce in-demand generic and specialty drugs. The company's nimble business model, which relies on contract manufacturing, has allowed it to undercut prices on critical medications like the multiple sclerosis drug teriflunomide. SOLA's focus on employee training and custom technology has also enabled a small team to punch above its weight against industry giants.

Why it matters

SOLA's success highlights how a small, agile pharmaceutical company can disrupt the market by quickly identifying opportunities, leveraging contract manufacturing, and prioritizing affordability and accessibility for patients. As the industry grapples with drug shortages and high costs, SOLA's model demonstrates an alternative path forward that puts patients first.

The details

SOLA Pharmaceuticals produces a range of generic prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including topical medications like creams, ointments, and transdermal patches. The company's business strategy is built around rapidly acquiring rights to generic drugs once patent protections expire on their branded equivalents. By working with contract manufacturing organizations, SOLA can avoid the massive upfront investment required to build its own production facilities for each drug. This allows the company to be nimble in selecting which products to manufacture based on factors like efficacy, demand, and profit margins.

  • SOLA Pharmaceuticals was founded as a self-funded startup in 2014.
  • The company is now in the process of investing $15 million to build its own transdermal patch manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge, a project three years in the making.

The players

SOLA Pharmaceuticals

A Baton Rouge-based pharmaceutical company that is the only FDA-approved manufacturer in the city. The company produces a range of generic and specialty drugs, including transdermal patches.

Keith LaNasa

The founder and CEO of SOLA Pharmaceuticals, who launched the company as a self-funded startup in 2014.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of the day, what the effort here is about is getting these products to patients.”

— Keith LaNasa, Founder and CEO (businessreport.com)

“When we dropped the price, some people came to me and said, 'What are you doing? You're crazy.'”

— Keith LaNasa, Founder and CEO (businessreport.com)

“That's afforded us a lot of opportunity. I think it's driven a lot of people to say, 'Hey, I want to do business with you.'”

— Keith LaNasa, Founder and CEO (businessreport.com)

What’s next

SOLA Pharmaceuticals plans to complete the $15 million investment to build its own transdermal patch manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge within the next three years.

The takeaway

SOLA Pharmaceuticals' success demonstrates how a nimble, data-driven pharmaceutical company can disrupt the industry by prioritizing affordability and accessibility for patients. The company's model of leveraging contract manufacturing and rapid decision-making has allowed it to undercut prices on critical medications, positioning it as an alternative to the high costs and inefficiencies of larger industry players.