Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Ardena has acquired ChemConnection, a leading contract manufacturer of novel active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and nanomedicines.

Originating from Organon and Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) in 2012, Netherlands-based ChemConnection has evolved to become a well-respected contract services provider serving biotechs and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies on a global scale.

This announcement follows a series of acquisitions by Belgium-headquartered Ardena and is part of its strategy to form a leading integrated drug development company and reach the €30 million sales mark this year.

“This acquisition is a major step in the execution of our wider strategy to become one of Europe’s leading one-source-contractors for the development of clinical supplies,” said Harry Christiaens, chief executive officer, Ardena. “Until today, Ardena was primarily focused on pharmaceutical development and manufacturing of drug products. With the acquisition of ChemConnection we strengthen our offering with complementary drug substance services. Moreover, the team in Oss is globally reputed for its nanomedicine expertise enabling the targeted delivery of complex small molecules and biomolecules.”

Based at the Pivot Park life sciences campus in Oss, the Netherlands, ChemConnection employs a team of more than 60 with expertise in process and analytical development, cGMP manufacturing and stability studies for APIs and nanomedicines. Its state of the art facility has the capability to manufacture APIs up to 30 kg scale.

Gerjan Kemperman, chief executive officer, ChemConnection, said, “Joining Ardena enables us to serve our customers with much broader services covering their API, drug product, regulatory CMC and bioanalysis requirements. In addition, together we can benefit from synergies that will boost the growth of our business.”

Ardena was formed in 2017, following the merging of three companies with complementary capabilities: Pharmavize in Belgium, and Crystallics and Analytical Biochemical Laboratory (ABL) in the Netherlands. With the acquisition of ChemConnection, Ardena now employs a total of 200 scientists at its Belgian headquarters in Ghent and across three sites in the Netherlands (Oss, Amsterdam and Assen).

“Supported by financial investor Mentha Capital, we aim to continue the group’s strong organic growth trajectory and we will look for further acquisitions to create an internationally recognized drug development company,” said Mr. Christiaens. “We want to create an integrated group of companies that is able to help our customers to navigate the challenges of drug development and meet all chemical, pharmaceutical and (bio)analytical needs in the clinical supply chain, from lab to patient.”