Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB), an international supplier for the biopharmaceutical industries, has acquired Scottish company BioOutsource. The privately owned company based in Glasgow, U.K., has been operating in the biotechnology market since 2007 and has approximately 85 employees. No financial details have been disclosed.

BioOutsource provides contract testing services to global biopharmaceutical clients in order to monitor the safety and quality of biologic drugs and vaccines. In particular, the company specializes in offering a comprehensive suite of services for the fast growing biosimilar industry. Its assays are used in the early phases of drug characterization and comparability and for lot release testing of novel therapeutics. This acquisition will develop SSB's service offering throughout the drug development pathway.

Reinhard Vogt, member of SSB's board, said, "By adding contract testing services, we will be able to support our biopharma clients even better in their drive to fast-track their new drug candidates through the development and clinical test phases and facilitate lot release testing in large scale manufacturing. The highly qualified team at BioOutsource will ideally complement our expertise, and we are looking forward to working with them."  

Gerry MacKay, CEO of BioOutsource, said, "As a part of this group, we will have the opportunity to work with more international customers particularly in areas like the U.S. and Asia where there is significant investment in biosimilar development and manufacturing."