Sterling Pharma Solutions acquires ADC Bio

Global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), Sterling Pharma Solutions, has announced the acquisition of ADC Biotechnology, a UK based bioconjugation development services business specialising in antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).

This follows an announcement by Sterling in December of a strategic investment into the ADC Bio business, with a view to acquisition in 2021.

The North Wales facility will rebrand to become part of the Sterling Pharma Solutions international network.  Together the teams will establish a centre of excellence for bioconjugation and ADC development and manufacturing services, which combine Sterling’s 50 years of experience in cGMP manufacturing, quality processes and compliance, with the expertise of the ADC Bio team and the state of the art facilities available at Deeside.

A multi-million pound investment will support the growth of the company’s ADC capabilities, which will include growing and developing the existing bioconjugation technical services team and expanding the analytical services team particularly in the cGMP area.  As well as this, the team will develop and establish cGMP bioconjugation/ADC manufacturing at Deeside in 2022.

Kevin Cook, CEO at Sterling Pharma Solutions, said: “We are delighted to confirm the acquisition of the ADC Bio business, this investment provides us with the opportunity to offer a wider portfolio of services to our customers in the fast growing ADC and bioconjugation market, as well as providing additional services to existing ADC Bio customers.

“Integrating our HPAPI capabilities with the expertise already found at Deeside means that we will also be able to offer the development and manufacture of toxin linkers.  This is an exciting time for both businesses as we embark on a period of growth and diversification to ensure we always stay ahead of the next innovation.  I’d like to welcome all ADC Bio employees to the Sterling family.”

Alan Raymond, Executive Chairman of ADC Bio, added: “This is fantastic news for our employees and our customers; targeted investment in both people and processes will allow the team to continue supporting important advances in drug development with additional services, and importantly with the additional support and experience from the Sterling team.

About Sterling

Sterling Pharma Solutions is a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and is the largest independent UK provider of small molecule API development and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry, specialising in handling challenging chemistries. With over 50 years’ experience, the team can manage the most complex API and API intermediate challenges from proof-of-concept to commercial manufacture.

Sterling has four facilities; its HQ in Dudley, Northumberland, UK, two sites in the US, the first in Cary, North Carolina and the second in Germantown, Wisconsin, and now a bioconjugation and ADCs facility in Deeside, North Wales, UK.

About ADC Biotechnology

Established in 2010, ADC Biotechnology is an innovative, and established pure play ADC (“Antibody Drug Conjugate”) specialist offering an integrated suite of services to pharma and biotech customers. The company has invested in and developed a leading and profitable CRO (“Contract Research Organisation”) offering through its Technical Service arm with a state of the art bioconjugation facility in Deeside, North East Wales.