Baton Rouge Pharma Firm Outpaces Big Pharma

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SOLA Pharmaceuticals, a small pharmaceutical company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has seen explosive growth over the past 12 years by using data-driven systems and contract manufacturing to rapidly bring generic drugs to market. With 24 products across 45 SKUs, SOLA has become the Capital City's only FDA-approved pharmaceutical manufacturer, challenging larger pharmaceutical firms.

Why it matters

SOLA's success highlights how smaller, nimble pharmaceutical firms can leverage technology and outsourcing to compete with big pharma companies, bringing more affordable generic drugs to patients. As the industry shifts towards contract manufacturing, companies like SOLA are able to quickly identify and capitalize on drug shortages and market opportunities.

The details

SOLA uses proprietary technology to select which generic drug products to carry based on factors like efficacy, safety, patient demand, and profit margins. By working with FDA-approved contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), SOLA can avoid the high costs of building its own manufacturing facilities for each drug. This allows the company to remain flexible and target drug shortages and profitable product lines. SOLA is now planning a $15 million investment to build its own transdermal patch manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge, where it currently produces 30-40% of the U.S. market's patches.

• SOLA Pharmaceuticals was founded as a self-funded startup in 2014.
• The company has grown to 24 products across 45 SKUs over its 12 years in business.

What they’re saying

What’s next

SOLA plans to invest $15 million to build its own transdermal patch manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge, where it currently produces 30-40% of the U.S. market's patches.