Concept Life Sciences (CLS), a UK-based drug discovery, development, and manufacturing organization backed by Limerston Capital, has completed the acquisition of Charnwood Discovery.
 
The deal bolsters CLS’s position as a leading pharmaceutical and life science services provider, aligning with its ambitious growth strategy. Charnwood Discovery, a renowned UK-based drug discovery research firm, brings a strong global client base and expertise in chemistry, biology, and ADME/DMPK.
 
The integration of Charnwood’s capabilities will enable CLS to offer more comprehensive solutions, accelerating drug candidate development from early-stage research to clinical trials. The combined entity aims to benefit from increased scale, enhanced scientific expertise, and access to advanced manufacturing facilities.
 
The acquisition comes amid growing industry uncertainty, particularly due to the US BIOSECURE Act, which could restrict US companies from collaborating with certain Chinese CROs. This shift may favor UK-based CROs like CLS, offering a more stable and secure alternative for global clients.
 
Dr Ben Cliff, CEO of Concept Life Services, said: “Charnwood Discovery brings an outstanding team of scientific talent and an extensive global client base. Like CLS, they are deeply committed to excellence and innovation in accelerating drug discovery. By combining our strengths, we’re able to fully integrate our capabilities and significantly speed up the progression of promising drug candidates from development through clinical trials to commercial production—at up to twice the pace of the industry average.”
 
Lee Patterson, for Charnwood Discovery, remarked: “CLS has an excellent reputation as an innovative and dynamic player in our field, and we see enormous potential to develop our portfolio of high-value, rapidly growing services, while advancing the development of new and complex therapies in biotech and pharmaceutical industries as well as emerging modalities such as cell and gene therapies (CGT) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). Our customers will see the immediate benefit of new investment, as well as access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaboration with leading scientists and professionals at CLS.”

Other Pharma Industry Acquisitions