Frontage Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of US contract research organization Frontage Holdings, has bought biotech services company Biotranex for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition extends Frontage’s presence in New Jersey, giving it a footprint in a location where several major pharmaceutical companies are based.

Biotranex, which is based in Monmouth Junction, principally provides a broad spectrum of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The company also has proprietary assay technologies, including BSEPcyte and MDR3cyte for understanding the role of Bile Salt Export Protein (BSEP) and Multidrug Resistance Protein 3 (MDR3) in drug-induced liver injury.

“The acquisition will fill our existing gap in transporter assay capabilities at Frontage Labs. This will now enable us to provide a more comprehensive set of DMPK services to existing and new clients,” said Abdul Mutlip, executive vice president of DMPK services at Frontage.

Kan He, general manager at Biotranex, added: “We believe that through the acquisition we will establish a center of excellence, helping Frontage to be the global leader in ADME [absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination] research services.”

In February, Frontage announced it had expanded its bioanalytical laboratories in Exton, Pennsylvania, enhancing its capabilities in biologics and small molecule drug development, biomarkers, cell and gene therapy, and high-throughput clinical sample management, supporting large clinical phase II-IV studies.

Last September, the CRO expanded its facility in Shanghai, China, with the extra space dedicated to bioanalytical services and sample management of small molecule programs.