Teddington, UK 11/18/15; Teddington, UK 11/24/16; London, UK 11/24/16—Life sciences and measurement firm LGC has acquired two companies, adding to its Standards and Genomics divisions. On November 24, LGC announced the purchase of BRC Global Standards, a provider of safety and quality standards programs for food and non-food manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution. British Retail Consortium, a trade association for the UK retail industry and BRC’s previous owner, retains a minority stake. “BRC Global Standards is a globally recognized and respected brand and its capabilities are highly complementary to LGC’s existing strengths across reference standards, proficiency testing and sports supplements supply chain assurance,” stated Euan O’Sullivan, managing director of LGC’s Standards Division. The companies stated that the purchase is part of BRC’s transition from a standards owner to a brand and consumer protection organization.

LGC also announced the purchase of Prime Synthesis for an undisclosed amount. Prime Synthesis produces Controlled Pore Glass (CPG) supports for oligonucleotide synthesis. The acquisition adds to LGC Biosearch’s CPG business, which will now include a US manufacturing location, and enables scale up of CPG production for pharmaceutical customers for late-stage clinical trials for oligonucleotide therapeutic candidates. “We are delighted to be integrating PSI to our Genomics division,” commented Daren Dick, vice president and general manager of LGC Biosearch’s Genomics division. “The acquisition will enable us to provide customers across the world with an extended products line, and strengthen our supply of oligo synthesis materials.”

The BRC purchase broadens LGC’s reference materials and proficiency testing business to new markets and products, such as offerings for the supply chain, as well as certification. In addition, the acquisition expands its share of customers in the food safety and consumer products testing markets. BRC will form a new business unit within LGC’s Standards division. As for Prime Synthesis, a revival in the development of oligo therapeutics has raised forecasts for commercialization. As a supplier of lab-scale CPGs, LGC can now expand this business to serve the market for scale-up of therapeutic products.