Sigma-Aldrich Corp. has acquired Pharmorphix Ltd., expanding SAFC Pharma’s manufacturing services customer base and enhancing its technology services offering. Based in Cambridge, UK, Pharmorphix offers solid-form research services to the global pharma and biopharma markets. All current employees, including the existing Pharmorphix management team, will remain with the company. Financial details were not disclosed.

Pharmorphix’s solid form research services are sold to pharmaceutical and biotech customers that require information on the solid state of therapeutics to support regulatory and intellectual property submissions. The acquisition enhances SAFC Pharma’s existing API development and production sites.

SAFC’s president, Frank Wicks, commented, “This technology-driven purchase of a leading company in its field is further indication of our desire to be considered the global outsourcing partner of choice for the pharma and biotech sectors. Recently published FDA guidelines concerning specification of API solid form make the services provided by firms such as Pharmorphix crucial to the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, better understanding and characterization of solid form provides valuable intellectual property that can be used to extend the patent life of new therapeutics.”

Dr. Alan Chorlton, Pharmorphix’s chief executive officer, added, “There is an excellent synergy between Pharmorphix’s technology and SAFC’s development and manufacturing capabilities. The acquisition will stimulate further, mutual business growth, and we look forward to joining such a dynamic and ambitious organization as SAFC.”

Pharmorphix is the second company this year to be integrated within the SAFC organization, following the May 2006 acquisition of Iropharm, a cGMP compliant commercial-scale chemical synthesis manufacturing site in Arklow, Ireland.