Citoxlab Group, a non-clinical CROs, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Solvo Biotechnology, a CRO specializing in drug transporter studies and the assessment of Drug-Drug Interactions (DDI).
Founded in 1999, Solvo Biotechnology is an international CRO in the field of drug transporter research. This field is growing rapidly as the investigation of the transport mechanisms becomes pivotal for drug development. Alongside metabolism data, a thorough knowledge of the drug candidates’ transport is key to identifying potential DDI, in addition to developing an understanding of their pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profile. Transporter studies are a regulatory requirement for entering large clinical trials and then requesting a marketing authorization from health regulatory agencies.
Dr. Jean-Francois Le Bigot, president and CEO of Citoxlab Group said: “The acquisition of Solvo Biotechnology will allow us to offer the most elaborated in vitro Drug Metabolism and PharmacoKinetics (DMPK) services to our customers. These are fully complementary with the in vivo DMPK studies we already provide from our sites in France, the US, and Canada. As an example, using in vitro human hepatocytes, the assessment of transport and metabolism is possible at a very early stage of development. These investigations are increasingly included in the selection of lead candidates; in vitro inter-species comparisons now contribute significantly to the selection of the relevant species in safety studies.”
(Source: CiToxLAB)