Earlier this month, PPD acquired Chinese CRO company Excel. Now they’ve added BioDuro LLC, dubbed a “drug discovery outsourcing company” in a press release.

According the press release, BioDuro was founded in 2005 and operates an 110,000-square-foot laboratory in Beijing. The company has 660 employees, with most of them based in Beijing. BioDuro works mostly in the areas of medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology, drug metabolism, pharmokinetic and safety services. PPD will work with BioDuro on research and development for pharmaceutical clients from early stage through Phase IV.

“Under the leadership of Masood Tayebi and the entire senior management group, BioDuro has built an exceptional team of researchers and scientists whose experience extends across a broad range of drug discovery,” said David Grange, CEO of PPD in the press release. “This acquisition will strengthen PPD’s presence in China and our ability to provide clients an extensive range of services in this country. It will also position us well to provide services for the growing global discovery outsourcing industry and to be the full-service CRO of choice in China.”

“PPD shares our commitment for delivering world-class, quality services to clients. Combining our drug discovery expertise with PPD’s global drug development resources will allow us to move our clients' programs from drug discovery into late-stage drug development and build upon our strong growth in China,” said Masood Tayebi, founder and chairman of BioDuro.

With the acquisitions of Excel and BioDuro, PPD will employ almost 1,000 people in China.