China-based Pharmaron, a fully integrated contract research organization (CRO) offering R&D services, has acquired Xceleron, a Maryland, U.S.-based accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) specialist for life sciences.

The AMS platform developed at Xceleron has unique sensitivity and features that allows identification and analysis of therapeutically and biologically relevant entities, including small molecules to large molecules at low concentrations. With this, Xceleron has supported regulatory filings for dozens of marketed drugs since 1998. The technology has been developed to support discovery of novel biomarkers and potentially new disease-modifying targets.

Xceleron’s use of microtracers and AMS detection technology complements Pharmaron’s existing platforms of radiolabelled compound manufacturing and radiolabelled metabolism operated in the UK. The combination of AMS and other established analytical technologies at Pharmaron supports early discovery, preclinical and clinical development. This acquisition is part of Pharmaron’s strategy to provide fully integrated, end-to-end R&D services.

“We are pleased to welcome another industry-leading R&D platform to the Pharmaron Group, once again demonstrating our commitment to becoming a global leader in drug R&D services,” said Boliang Lou, chairman and chief executive officer, Pharmaron. “The addition of Xceleron develops and differentiates our capabilities in translational science and clinical development services, and further strengthens our ability to support our worldwide collaborators and partners with fully integrated pharmaceutical R&D services.”

Michael Butler, chief executive officer, Xceleron, said, “With the support of our investors, the Xceleron team has worked diligently to create an analytical platform that is now accepted as a valuable component of the contemporary pharmaceutical development tool-box. We are excited to become a part of Pharmaron’s integrated drug research and development platform as it allows for new opportunities to serve our customers arising from the combination of our AMS technology with Pharmaron’s extensive and growing capabilities.”