Manchester, UK-based Concept Life Sciences, an integrated drug discovery, development and analytical services company, has acquired Scottish contract research organisation Aquila BioMedical.

Aquila, a University of Edinburgh spin out, has expertise in preclinical contract research on therapeutics for oncology, biomarker discovery, and target expression, with services covering a wide range of in vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept studies.

According to Concept, the acquisition is “a pivotal addition” to its own services supporting the drug discovery and development process.

“The company’s offering in translational biology adds significant value to our current discovery services, and broadens the wider group’s therapy offering,” noted Concept’s executive chairman Michael Fort.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.