UK-headquartered contract research organisation Chiltern has snapped up US group Ockham to cement its standing in oncology, source and biopharmaceutics development. 

Chiltern said it has acquired 100% of the Cary, North-Carolina-based firm, significantly strengthening their combined service offerings across these three strategic areas.

The combined company will be called Chiltern, and Ockham’s management team will filter into the merged group, to help ensure "seamless continuation of high quality services".

Explaining his firm's interest in the marriage, Chiltern Chief Executive Officer James Esinhart said the move "is a natural progression towards our strategic goal of becoming the premier specialised mid-tier CRO".

Ockham's James Baker, who will become Chiltern’s Chief Development Officer, said joining with Chiltern was "an easy choice," which will allow the group to leverage its "global reach and highly developed staffing business in Europe, both of which are complementary to Ockham’s deep oncology expertise and source business in the US".