Element enters European pharmaceutical market with major life sciences acquisition

Element Materials Technology (Element) has acquired Arch Sciences Group (Arch), a leading provider of analytical services and laboratory solutions to customers in the pharmaceuticals sector. 

Arch operates two divisions: the laboratory-based analytical services division, which directly supports drug development and new product regulatory approval cycles, and the technical laboratory solutions division, which supports a wide range of third-party laboratories.

The analytical services division, with laboratories in the UK and the US, provides a wide range of advanced analytical services with a global reputation for expertise in extractables and leachables testing services, and the testing of FDA-regulated consumer products.

The technical laboratory solutions division delivers technical services, training through its global market-leading online CHROMacademy platform, method development and support, and consumable products covering the supply of specialist third party chromatography consumables. The technical laboratory solutions divisions also supports the creation of automated laboratory systems and instruments to improve the accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness of chemical analysis; sample preparation; and liquid handling. With more than 170 employees across five locations in three countries, Arch holds a strong position in the market offering a comprehensive suite of specialist services and products that cater to customers’ testing and training requirements.

Jo Wetz, Element CEO, said: "Our acquisition of Arch complements our existing capabilities and expertise in the Americas after a period of significant growth there, and creates a strong platform to expand the pharmaceuticals segment of our life sciences business in Europe."

"Following the acquisitions of Avomeen and ALG in the last 12 months, and with this new commitment to growing the life sciences business in Europe, Element is rapidly developing its position as a full-service solutions provider to the life sciences segment, which is now the most significant end market for the Element Group.”

Scott Fletcher, CEO at Arch, commented: “We are looking forward to joining Element’s global family and tapping into its expertise across a wide range of services and geographies. As Element pushes forward with expansion of its life sciences offering, it’s an exciting time to enter the business, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer our expert capabilities to grow Element’s presence in Europe, the US and hopefully beyond."

Element’s network of life sciences laboratories offers a broad spectrum of testing services to the pharmaceutical, medical device, environmental, and food segments, and boasts a proud track record of high-level scientific expertise which positions it at the forefront of the industry. 

Element’s facilities provide specialist testing services for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, including chemical and physical characterization; formulation development; storage stability, extractable and leachable studies; virology and virus identification; cell banking; antimicrobial and microbial testing; elemental impurity testing on a wide range of drug, nutraceutical, medical device and consumer products; cytotoxicity, bioburden, endotoxin and TOC testing; pathogen identification; bacterial analysis and nutritional chemistry. Its environmental capabilities include drinking water, groundwater, surface and waste water testing; soil testing; sediments, solid waste, drilling waste; ambient air quality testing; stack emissions sampling; and the management of hazardous materials (including asbestos).