Kent Pharmaceuticals has been sold to Phoenix Labs in a deal that will expand the Irish pharmaceutical company’s presence in the UK.
European investment firm Duke Street announced the sale on 23 September 2026, stating that the acquisition would create opportunities across the companies’ product portfolios and geographic markets.
Kent Pharmaceuticals is an established distributor of specialty and generic medicines across the UK and Ireland. Headquartered in Ashford, Kent, the company focuses on essential and critical products, as well as value-added medicines.
The business is a key supplier to the NHS and has consistently maintained its position as one of the leading suppliers of injectable medicines to UK hospitals. Its operations also include in-house business development and regulatory expertise, alongside commercial and market access capabilities.
Expanding Phoenix Labs’ UK presence
Phoenix Labs is an established participant in the Irish and wider European pharmaceutical market. The acquisition of Kent Pharma will expand its operations in the UK and bring together complementary products and expertise.
Kent Pharma’s presence in Ireland, established in 2020, is also expected to complement Phoenix Labs’ existing portfolio in the market.
The deal could provide the combined business with greater reach across the UK and Ireland, while supporting the continued supply and development of important pharmaceutical products.
Growth and development
Duke Street acquired Kent Pharma in 2019 through a carve-out from DCC Healthcare, a subsidiary of DCC plc.
Following the acquisition, Kent Pharma was established as a fully independent business. This included introducing a new enterprise resource planning system and recruiting employees to manage its core functions while maintaining the company’s established market reputation and access.
Duke Street subsequently supported Kent Pharma’s management team in expanding and diversifying its portfolio through new product launches, acquisitions and licensing agreements, with an increased focus on specialty medicines.
During Duke Street’s ownership, Kent Pharma acquired Dalkeith Labs and invested in intellectual property to support the development of new products. The company also expanded into Ireland and introduced more than 10 new product launches each year.
As part of a wider strategic review, Kent Pharma sold its non-core antibiotics manufacturing facility, Athlone Labs, to Irish manufacturing platform Gaelic Laboratories in late 2025.
“A significant transformation”
Charlie Troup, managing partner at Duke Street, said Kent Pharma had undergone a “significant transformation” during the firm’s ownership.
He said: “Management has delivered a significant transformation across the business, establishing it as a leading independent player in the UK and Irish pharmaceutical markets.
“We have invested significantly in new product development to grow and shape the portfolio, while also expanding the capabilities of the business to continue to deliver critical pharmaceutical products to patients via multiple channels.”
Troup added that the transaction represented a typical Duke Street investment, involving a complex carve-out, the sale of a non-core manufacturing site and continued investment in the development and launch of new pharmaceutical products.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for Kent Pharma as it becomes part of Phoenix Labs, bringing together two businesses with established pharmaceutical portfolios and operations across the UK, Ireland and Europe.