UK-based Shott bought Covance’s laboratory in Alnwick, Northumberland this week in a deal prompted by the expiration of a preclinical services contract the US contract research organisation (CRO) had with French drug developer Sanofi.
Shott set up a contract research arm called ARC Trinova to run the lab. According to a Covance spokeswoman the new CRO “will continue to provide certain capabilities to Covance that are linked to the work performed at other Covance sites in the UK.”
API capacity
However, as we reported on Tuesday, Shott Trinova also plans to offer process development and manufacturing services for active pharmaceutical ingredients at the site.
A spokeswoman for Shott told us the idea is to “provide an integrated service to clients at a key stage of drug development, spanning preclinical and early clinical phases.”
She added that “process development and manufacturing carried out at the site will span from tens of grams to low kg scale” and said that production will begin “during 2016.”
Shott, was established by Ian Shott former CEO of Excelsyn.
Jobs saved
The Alnwick lab employed 130 people. Most staff have been kept on by ARC according to LabCorp-owned Covance, whose spokeswoman to us the transfer was part of the sale agreement.
“The majority of the staff transferred to ARC Trinova. As part of the agreement ARC Trinova agreed to retain a minimum of 50 employees and will continue to provide certain capabilities to Covance that are linked to the to work performed at other Covance sites in United Kingdom.”
Covance’s other UK sites are in Maidenhead, Harrogate, London and Leeds.