Sterling buys into ADC Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions has announced a new strategic partnership with ADC Biotechnology, a specialist in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Both companies are UK-based.

Sterling will make an unspecified but significant investment in ADC Bio with a view to acquiring it in Q1 2021, subject to due diligence. The businesses will then work together to develop an integrated service offering for existing and potential customers, which combines ADC Bio’s expertise with Sterling’s in high potency small molecules.

“In the future we hope that our combined expertise and targeted investment will be a strong competitive force in the race to find the latest generation of drugs in the oncology area,” said Sterling CEO Kevin Cook.

This follows on from Sterling’s acquisition of a second US development and manufacturing facility from Alcami at Germantown, Wisconsin, in September. At the time, the company said that the buy would boost its API development and manufacturing capacity, particularly for complex and hazardous requirements, and including high potency.

In the same month, Sterling also officially opened its new Material Science Centre (MSC). This added solid form services that it had formerly outsourced, including salt and co-crystal screening, polymorph screening, pre-formulation evaluation and crystallisation development, to its in-house capabilities.