The acquisition of the Gaithersburg-based Gene Logic Labs (GLL) enables Bridge to offer a complete investigational new drug (IND) suite of toxicology and pharmacology services on a global scale. All of the current GLL employees will be retained to add their experience to Bridge's existing US and Chinese operations.
Commenting on the acquisition, Dr Glenn Rice, Bridge's chief executive and president, said: "Many clients see the economies associated with performing preclinical work in Asia and want the assurances that work done there would be performed under the strict guidelines of US level GLP regulatory requirements."
"The GLL acquisition allows us to offer the unique benefits of our China facilities with the assurance of the regulatory compliance that clients require."
Bridge's Chinese animal vivarium is the first preclinical laboratory in China to have US level good laboratory practice (GLP) validated systems and software. The state of the art pre-clinical testing laboratory in Zhongguancun Life Science Park in Beijing, completed the first of two US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) validation phases in June, 2006.
Gene Logic has entered into a preferred services agreement with Bridge to allow them continued access to the preclinical laboratories.
Commenting on the sale, Mark Gessler, Gene Logic president and CEO, said: "This sale enables us to focus our resources and talents on growing our business in drug repositioning."
"Our decision to focus is driven in part by the continuing growth of our drug repositioning business, in which Eli Lilly recently joined a client list that includes Pfizer, Roche, and Organon. We believe the caliber of these partnerships speaks both to the promise that top pharma sees in this emerging approach to drug development, and to Gene Logic's growing leadership role within it."