GSK spinoffs join forces as single CRO providing immunology lab services

10-Jun-2019 - Last updated on 10-Jun-2019 at 15:18 GMT

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Neomed-Labs/Pacific Biomarkers last week announced its acquisition of PairImmune in a bid to expand its immunology offerings.

Neomed-Labs/Pacific Biomarkers (NLPBI) is a clinical laboratory contract research organization (CRO) formed last year after the private equity (PE) firm Ampersand Capital acquired Neomed-Labs in September 2018 and Pacific Biomarkers in the months following.

Last week, NLPBI announced its acquisition of the Laval, Quebec-based CRO PairImmune, which provides non-GLP preclinical immunology services.

Both Neomed-Labs and PairImmune spun out of GSK’s vaccine clinical laboratories in 2015 and are located in the same building in Canada, explained Mounia Azzi, chief business officer, Neomed-Labs.

“There is a clear synergy and complementarity expertise between us, so it is a really natural fit and perfect match,” she told us.

The addition of PairImmune expands NLPBI’s offering to include in vivo efficacy models for vaccines and immunotherapies, and increases its capacity and capabilities in flow cytometry, Azzi added.

PairImmune will continue operating under its current management, with NLPBI providing financial, business development, and marketing support to augment its client portfolio.

Azzi called the new addition to the NLPBI’ family "timely," as the company plans to rebrand this fall to include Neomed-Labs/Pacific Biomarkers and PairImmune under one identity.

Further announcements are expected soon, Azzi said, “We are continuing our growth strategy and aim to expand our geographic footprint and add new platforms and services.”