Frontage acquires Concord Biosciences

Deal will add preclinical, toxicology and agrochemical services to Frontage’s existing product development portfolio

Mel J. Yeates
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EXTON, Pa.—Frontage Laboratories Inc., a global contract research organization (CRO), announced in early April the acquisition of Concord Biosciences, a preclinical CRO located near Cleveland. Founded in 1986, Concord Bio supports the pharmaceutical, agricultural, chemical and animal health industries with drug safety, metabolism, bioanalytical, residue and environmental fate studies.
 
Frontage, a full-service early-stage CRO, has been assisting global biopharmaceutical organizations in their drug development efforts since 2001. Spanning discovery through late-stage development, its offerings include drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, bioanalysis, analytical testing, product development and full biometrics support. Frontage also provides turnkey product development services to generic, innovator and consumer health pharmaceutical companies to support IND, NDA, ANDA and 505(b)(2) submissions. Frontage has successfully enabled biopharmaceutical and generic companies of all sizes to advance hundreds of molecules through clinical development to commercial launch in global markets.
 
Dr. Song Li, founder and CEO of Frontage Laboratories, said, “We have committed to build a global CRO company with integrated services. The acquisition of Concord Biosciences is a significant step toward reaching our goal. The addition of Concord Bio to the Frontage family will enable us to provide pharmaceutical product development services from lead selection to IND-enabling studies to commercialization. Additionally, the agrochemical expertise of Concord Bio will position Frontage as a major CRO in the agricultural products industry.”
 
Concord (previously known as Ricerca Biosciences) sports a comprehensive, integrated suite of services that can help clients meet regulatory requirements and internal development goals. Located on a 20-acre campus in Concord, Ohio, the company’s facilities reportedly allow for operation on the scale of a large CRO, while offering the nimbleness of a small CRO. Concord has described itself as “relentless” in its pursuit of client service and adding value to client situations through accelerating timelines and providing expert collaboration.
 
“Concord collaborates with clients to support the progression of drug candidates through all phases of development and manufacture, and tests agricultural compounds for successful registration or re-registration. Our chemical development experience includes specialty and performance chemicals, which allows Concord to support the continuum from development through commercialization,” notes Concord’s website. “What makes Concord unique is our ability to tap into the vast and varied experience and expertise of our scientific teams, as well as our proven approach to process and project management.
 
“Concord has the expertise to support your needs, including established quality programs and well-tested practices that are fundamental to success. We provide regulatory strategy from experts [who] have been there before, and can help to smoothly navigate the path to approval. Our nuanced approach to project management provides oversight for critical-paths, go/no go decision points and the communication style and comfort level you expect between counterpart teams.”
 
In March, Frontage also announced an expansion into Princeton, N.J., to meet the growing demand for laboratory and clinical services solutions in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The new Carnegie Center location adds 4,500 square feet of office space to support the continued growth of both Frontage Laboratories Inc. and Frontage Clinical Services Inc.
 
“We are very pleased to be able to add a third New Jersey location. This new site will allow us to better serve our pharmaceutical and biotech clients located in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” Li noted. Frontage has five U.S. locations, including two in Exton, Pa., as well as one each in Secaucus, Princeton and Somerset, N.J. Frontage also has two locations in China, one in Shanghai and one in Suzhou, Jiangsu.

Mel J. Yeates

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