GL Chemtec (GLC), a specialist in advanced chemistry R&D and scale-up services to support active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development, and the development of advanced materials for drug delivery, medical devices and other life science applications, is partnering with Edgewater Capital Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm with deep sector expertise in life sciences and pharma services, accelerating the company’s growth as a North American chemistry-based contract research organization (CRO). GLC is positioned within the North American market to address the growing need for advanced chemistry services with a focus on speed, flexibility and high customer-touch business model.

“We are excited to be partnering with Edgewater to accelerate the growth in our API and advanced materials capabilities where we have seen significant added demand over the past couple of years,” said Gamil Alhakimi, president and co-founder of GLC. “The expertise that Edgewater brings is not only financial, but operational and commercial expertise in the pharma services sector that will help us achieve our vision.”

Operating from two facilities in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, GLC houses an innovation center where it provides R&D services supporting advanced multi-step organic synthesis of next-generation therapies, and a new facility housing a scale-up lab, two pilot plant suites, material science laboratory, including cleanrooms for advanced material development.

Brian Scanlan, operating partner at Edgewater Capital, said, “As a chemistry-based CRO, GLC brings a unique mix of advanced multi-step organic synthesis expertise to support API development, combined with deep expertise in advanced materials including polymer science, hydrogels, and nano emulsions which are all next-generation technologies for drug delivery and devices. The company is highly differentiated and relevant in the North American pharma services space.”