Symeres, a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), announces the acquisition of DGr Pharma, a drug development-focused consultancy, to expand its integrated early-stage drug development services and accelerate IND-enabling capabilities for biopharma clients. The acquisition is supported by Keensight Capital (“Keensight”), one of the leading private equity managers dedicated to pan-European Growth Buyout[[1]] investments.
Founded in 2018 and based in the Netherlands, DGr Pharma specialises in pre-clinical and clinical regulatory strategy and consultancy for biotech and pharmaceutical partners working in early drug development. Its core services include chemical-pharmaceutical, non-clinical and clinical development planning, quality assurance, and regulatory submissions. DGr Pharma has deep expertise in small and large molecules including antibodies, ADCs and oligonucleotides. With a reputation for scientific rigor, DGr Pharma adds significant regulatory depth to the Symeres portfolio enabling it to deliver a more integrated solution across the full spectrum of drug discovery and development.
DGr Pharma’s pharmacokinetic data analysis services operate under Good Clinical Pratice (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), expertise that aligns with Symeres’ integrated offering, including ADME. The GLP status enhances data quality and regulatory readiness, giving Symeres’ clients a more efficient and reliable path to IND submission.
Guillaume Jetten, CEO of Symeres, commented: “This acquisition strengthens our ability to offer truly integrated solutions across the drug discovery and development spectrum. DGr Pharma’s expertise enhances our scientific capabilities, allowing us to better support our clients’ evolving needs and reinforce Symeres’ position as a partner of choice in the global biopharma market.”
Kees Groen, Founder and CEO of DGr Pharma, added: “This is an exciting new chapter for DGr Pharma. Joining Symeres provides us with the opportunity to grow our reach and expand the value we bring to clients, particularly in early-stage development. We share Symeres’ commitment to high-quality science, long-term relationships and entrepreneurial ambition and we look forward to being part of the next phase of growth.”
Amit Karna, Partner at Keensight Capital, concluded: “We are proud to support Symeres with this specialized acquisition, which will extend the company’s capabilities into highly complementary services and attractive drug classes. We look forward to continuing to support the Symeres team as they selectively broaden the Company’s offering for their blue-chip biopharma clients.””
[1] Growth Buyout: investment in profitable, private companies experiencing strong growth, in minority or majority positions, with or without leverage, using a flexible approach tailored to the needs of individual entrepreneurs, in order to finance organic growth projects, acquisition strategies or provide historic shareholders with liquidity.
