LakePharma, a provider of integrated solutions covering the biologics CRO space, has acquired Blue Sky BioServices, a CRO specializing in protein and antibody production and assay services. The combined company will be known as LakePharma, and is now the largest dedicated biologics CRO in the U.S., providing a broad range of protein and antibody-related development services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets.

Bringing together LakePharma’s expertise in antibody development, protein expression and characterization, molecular biology and process development with Blue Sky’s leadership in bacterial and baculovirus systems, complementary molecular biology platforms, and assay services will provide the biologics discovery research market with a continuum of services offered by a single CRO. LakePharma has nearly 100 employees and four facilities located in the key San Francisco Bay Area and Cambridge/Boston biotech hubs.

“LakePharma and Blue Sky are extremely complementary businesses that joined to create a singular company with unparalleled capabilities, broad expertise and quality processes in biologics development and engineering,” said Hua Tu, chief executive officer, LakePharma, who will continue as the chief exec of the expanded organization.  “This transaction positions us to engage and meet the needs of expanding markets while better serving our customers through continued investment in innovative, complementary services.”