Cambrex Corp., a manufacturer of small molecules and generic APIs, has agreed to acquire PharmaCore Inc., a company specializing in developing, manufacturing and scaling up small molecule APIs for clinical projects, for approximately $25 million. PharmaCore occupies a 35,000 sq.-ft. GMP site in High Point, NC, and has more than 60 employees.
 
PharmaCore develops and produces complex APIs and intermediates requiring multi-step synthetic processes in batch sizes from milligrams to 100 kg to support clinical trials from Phase I – Phase III. The company is licensed with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to manufacture Schedule II to Schedule V controlled substances.
 
The acquisition expands Cambrex’s small molecule API services and complements its existing large scale, multi-purpose manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe. PharmaCore has revenues of approximately $15 to $17 million per year.
 
“We are excited to announce our acquisition of PharmaCore, which we believe underlines our commitment to continually enhancing our service offering to our global pharmaceutical and biotech customers. The acquisition will provide the capability and expertise to efficiently develop early clinical phase products and new technologies. We expect PharmaCore’s substantial customer base and robust project pipeline to broaden our potential late stage clinical development and commercial manufacturing opportunities,” said Steven Klosk, chief executive officer of Cambrex.
  
Rob Maddox, president of PharmaCore said, “PharmaCore is proud of the reputation we have developed, both as a trusted CMO and a company with a strong track record of innovative chemistry. We are thrilled to be joining Cambrex’s global network and to have the opportunity to participate in Cambrex’s growth strategy.”
 
PharmaCore’s NC facility has a 15,000 sq.-ft. chemistry lab and a 13,000 sq.-ft. pilot plant, with reactor capacity ranging from 20L to 2000L, with supporting GMP analytical services.
 
The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to occur within 30 days.