ABL Acquisition Extends Ardena’s Early-Phase Offering

Early-phase contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Ardena, has acquired bioanalytical contract laboratory, Analytical Biochemical Laboratory (ABL). The acquisition of Netherlands-based ABL follows the merging of Pharmavize and Crystallics to form Ardena. This move broadens the CDMO’s preclinical and clinical offering to include bioanalytical and drug discovery services.

“Our focus is to help customers navigate the hurdles of drug development and in order to do this effectively, we need to deliver a broad and integrated service offering spanning drug discovery, preclinical, CMC, and clinical services,” Harry Christiaens, CEO of Ardena, noted in a press statement. “With ABL’s expertise, we can now support sponsors with bioanalytical and drug discovery services to help them reach important preclinical and clinical milestones. These specialist capabilities complement our existing services, which include solid-state chemistry, analytical and formulation development, and early-phase clinical supply manufacturing.”

With the acquisition of ABL, Ardena now has three facilities in Europe, including Amsterdam (the former Crystallics facility) and Assen (the former ABL facility) in the Netherlands, as well as the company’s headquarters in Ghent, Belgium. 

“The acquisition of ABL was a strategic decision to further our goal to become a one-source contract partner for early-phase development. We expect to continue this ‘buy & build’ strategy in the coming months and years,” Christiaens highlighted.

Founded in 1969, ABL specializes in the analysis of endogenous (biomarkers) and exogenous compounds (drugs) in biological matrices derived from humans and animals. The company is active in all phases of drug development, including discovery, pre-clinical and clinical phases I–IV. 

Ardena was launched following the merging of Pharmavize and Crystallics. The two companies came together in 2016 with backing from investor Mentha Capital. The new brand name, Ardena, reveals the increased service offering and complementary capabilities of Pharmavize in Belgium and Crystallics in the Netherlands. The new company delivers integrated services that include solid-state chemistry, analytical and formulation development, and early-phase clinical supply manufacturing.

Ardena will be exhibiting for the first time at CPhI Worldwide in Frankfurt, Oct. 24–26, 2017.

Source:  Ardena, Stand 40B12