The acquisitive Northern Ireland pharmaceuticals group Galen Holdings has expanded its operations in the US with the $13 million (€13.7 million) acquisition of Applied Clinical Concepts (ACC) and the pharmacy division of Duke Clinical Research Institute, an affiliate of Duke University, North Carolina.

ACC and Duke provide pharmacy and drug management services for government, academic, pharmaceutical and biotech clients. As of March, ACC and Duke had net assets of $1.9 million and $500,000 profits for the year to June 1999.