Under the agreement, the analytical testing firm will take on Selcia’s 2,500m² research and development laboratories in Ongar, UK, where it houses its medicinal chemistry and peptidyl prolyl isomerase (PPIase) inhibitor screening platform.
Eurofins will also integrate the contract research organization’s (CRO) radiolabelling capabilities to test compounds’ metabolism and utilization.
“Selcia’s focus on quality and world leading carbon-14 (14C) radiolabelling capabilities, including GLP analytical and GMP API manufacturing, fills a strategic gap in Eurofins’ global offering in the highly attractive pharmaceutical and agroscience testing markets,” said Eurofins’ Klaus Kuegler.
According to Selcia, the acquisition, terms of which were not disclosed, offers Eurofins a more comprehensive drug discovery service, “including innovative hit to lead and lead optimization, medicinal chemistry, assay development and screening.”
Selcia’s 70 employees – which work across analytical, medicinal and synthetic radiochemistry, and biology areas – will also work under the Eurofins, a Selcia spokesperson told us.
“Selcia will continue to independently foster relationships with new and existing customers as well as with Eurofins’ worldwide network of laboratories,” said Selcia’s COO Clive Cornell.
The acquisition is the latest in a list of recent takeovers for Eurofins.
In 2016, Eurofins acquired US analytical services firm Advantar Laboratories, Australian QC company ams, and Dutch QC services firm Sinensis Life Science.
Eurofins also bought Canadian drug ingredient manufacturing and testing contractor Alphora Research and India-based preclinical CRO Advinus Therapeutics in 2016.