UK-based drug research spinout Aquila Biomedical has been purchased by Concept Life Sciences, which hopes to enhance its own service offering to multiple scientific industries.

Aquila Biomedical, a UK-based drug research spinout from University of Edinburgh, was acquired yesterday by drug discovery company Concept Life Sciences for an undisclosed sum.

Aquila enables pharmaceutical developers to conduct pre-clinical research in fields such as oncology, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disease.

The spinout claims that its procedures can markedly improve the likelihood of researchers identifying target compounds for further development.

Concept hopes that buying Aquila will strengthen its own offering, which includes services to the pharmaceutical industry as well as to the biotech and life sciences sectors.

Aquila was founded in 2011 and moved to a life sciences business complex in the Scottish capital two years later. Despite talk of an imminent funding round when Aquila moved, however, the developer has not disclosed any equity since launch.

Michael Fort, executive chairman of Concept Life Sciences, said: “We are excited to add Aquila to the Concept group.

“The company’s offering in translational biology adds significant value to our current discovery services, and broadens the wider group’s therapy offering.”

Jonathan Seckl, the vice-principal of planning, resources and research policy at University of Edinburgh, said: “We congratulate the Aquila team on this milestone in their approach to building advanced biology into innovative discovery.

“This investment highlights the university’s commitment to successfully translating our world-class research into practical application by industry.”