Sterling buys UK CRO

CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions has acquired UK-based NewChem Technologies, which offers contract services focused on complex organic process chemistry to the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, diagnostics, biotechnology and veterinary markets. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal includes all of NewChem’s assets and employees.

NewChem was founded in 2002, as a spin-off from Newcastle University School of Chemistry. Its laboratories are based at Newcastle’s Biosphere (pictured), which brings together industry and academic researchers in many different facilities. Founders Bob Tyson and Bernard Golding will remain as site head and science director, respectively.

Sterling said that the NewChem site will work “synergistically” with its early-phase development centre at Cary, North Carolina. Its network also includes the UK headquarters and manufacturing site in Cramlington, near Newcastle, a recently GMP-licensed dedicated bioconjugation facility in Deeside, UK, a 45-hectare site in Ringaskiddy, Ireland, and another US site at Germantown, Wisconsin.