A York company that provides laboratory testing of clinical trials conducted in detecting cancer and other diseases has formed a major transatlantic alliance giving it a global network in more than 60 countries.

Pivotal Laboratories, based in Aviator Court, Clifton Moor, announced its alliance with ACM Central Laboratory Services, headquartered in Rochester, New York. The companies will be rebranded globally as ACM-Pivotal.

The deal comes five months after Pivotal was sold in a management buyout in an £8 million deal backed by Northern Venture Managers and HSBC.

Peter Napier, director of business development, said: "This is a globalised marketing alliance which will open doors for us but is not a merger or takeover.

"Pivotal has developed an excellent reputation as a European central laboratory. This rebranding as ACM-Pivotal will allow us to build on our reputation for excellence, while creating new business opportunities for us as a truly global provider of central laboratory services." Mr Napier stressed that Pivotal Laboratories would remain a separate local entity and said: "In the longer term, the alliance should see the creation of more jobs in York as Pivotal has got aggressive growth plans over the next five years."

Kathleen Murray, executive director, global operations and strategic development for ACM, said: "We are committed to providing full global capabilities to a standard unrivalled in the industry. Our flexibility and focus in meeting customer needs, gives a greater advantage with high quality results and faster turnaround times."

Pivotal, which employs 30 people at its York laboratory, provides analytical services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and tests patient samples for a wide range of biomarkers. These are the substances found in the blood, body fluids and tissues which can be used to detect the presence of certain types of cancer and other diseases.

Established five years ago, the business has grown rapidly and now has a customer base which includes some of the top pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, January 19, 2006