Sigma-Aldrich buys Pharmorphix

Sigma-Aldrich Corp. has acquired Pharmorphix Ltd., a privately held firm based in Cambridge, U.K., that offers solid-form research services to pharmaceutical and biotech markets.Terms of the acquisition, paid in cash, weren't disclosed.

The St. Louis-based supplier of biochemicals, organic chemicals, chromatography products and diagnostic reagents said the addition of Pharmorphix will broaden its manufacturing services customer base and enhance technology offerings for existing customers.

Sigma-Aldrich said Pharmorphix, which had sales of about $5 million in the past 12 months, won't have a material impact on its sales. Pharmorphix is expected to be neutral to mildly accretive to earnings in 2006, with no initial charges.

Phamorphix employees and existing management team will remain with the company.