Pittsburgh — Life Science Connect has acquired PharmaSource and CDMO Live, expanding its media and events offerings for the biopharmaceutical outsourcing industry.
PharmaSource and CDMO Live were part of Life Science Networks, which also operates CDMO Live Europe, CDMO Live Americas and External Manufacturing Leaders. The brands will be combined with Life Science Connect’s existing platforms, including Outsourced Pharma and the CDMO Leadership Awards.
The acquired businesses will form a new events division within Life Science Connect focused on pharmaceutical outsourcing. The company said the combination will bring together editorial content, industry events and executive communities serving biopharmaceutical manufacturing professionals.
Life Science Connect is a U.S.-based life sciences media company backed by Latticework Capital Management and Edgehill Management.
Life Science Networks was founded in 2023 by media and events entrepreneurs Luke Bilton and Chris Kilbee. The company developed partnering events, digital media platforms and executive communities focused on outsourced biopharmaceutical manufacturing, reaching about 50,000 industry professionals.
“To build and grow our events division, our approach is to start with great people, entrepreneurs with a vision of how to provide specific audiences with actionable content and connections to others in the community who can help them,” said Jon Howland, CEO at Life Science Connect. “Chris, Luke and their team represent that approach and we are excited to see what they will build.”
CDMO Live was recently recognized as Best Event Launch at the Association of Event Organizers Awards in London. The award cited the event’s buyer-focused model, curated engagement and industry community.
“Over the last three years we’ve created brands we’re incredibly proud of, with a team that’s been instrumental in making it happen,” said Bilton and Kilbee. “Life Science Connect shares our vision for building a pharma events business that connects this remarkable sector with exceptional networking, content and experiences, and joining forces helps us get there much faster. What we can build together by combining our strengths is genuinely exciting.”
Life Science Connect said it plans to support the portfolio’s growth through additional investment and an artificial intelligence-enabled technology platform designed to connect biopharmaceutical professionals with industry information and suppliers.
Bilton and Kilbee will remain with the organization as senior vice presidents and lead the new events division alongside Life Science Connect’s existing team.
