Frontage Holdings Corporation, a contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated, science-driven research, analytical and development services with presence in both North America and China, said that its subsidiary Frontage Laboratories has acquired the biotech Biotranex.
 
Biotranex is based in the U.S. located in New Jersey and is principally engaged in providing a broad spectrum of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It offers a variety of services to study transporter properties of new chemical entities to meet the FDA and EMA guidance such as mono- or bi-directional permeability determination in CACO-2, MDCK and P-gp- and BCRP-transfected cell lines; transporter phenotyping/inhibition (IC50 or Ki) and hepatic uptake in hepatocytes from humans and preclinical species. Biotranex has also developed proprietary technologies, such as BSEPcyte and MDR3cyte in understanding the role of Bile Salt Export Protein (BSEP) and Multidrug Resistance Protein 3 (MDR3) in drug-induced liver injury (DILI).
 
“Biotranex was established more than 10 years ago, specializing in conducting transporter assays for potential new therapeutic agents,” said Abdul Mutlib, executive vice president of DMPK services, Frontage. “The acquisition will fill our existing gap in transporter assay capabilities at Frontage Labs. This will now enable us to provide a more comprehensive set of DMPK services to existing and new clients. It is anticipated that Biotranex will strengthen the client base by bringing in new and existing clients, and become a center of excellence in transporter studies.”
 
Kan He, general manager, Biotranex, said, “We are excited to now be a part of the Frontage family, and are looking forward to what lies ahead. Biotranex brings onboard decades of experience and expertise in transporter research and services, which will form incredible new synergies and opportunities at Frontage. We believe that through the acquisition we will establish a center of excellence, helping Frontage to be the global leader in ADME research services.”
 
“In completing the acquisition, we will expand our capacity with additional talent, equipment, and facilities to be used in the provision of existing and novel services to our customers,” said Song Li, chief executive officer, Frontage Labs. “This acquisition will accelerate the creation of Centers of Excellence in Drug Metabolism within Frontage in both North America and China. It will also enable Frontage to extend its presence in New Jersey, giving it a geographical footprint in a location where several major pharmaceutical companies are located. The combined resources will enable Frontage to move towards becoming a global leader in providing metabolism services to our existing and new clients in pharmaceutical and agrichemical industries.”