Jan 12 (Reuters) - Charles River Laboratories ( CRL )

said on Monday it would buy one of its major suppliers of

non-human primates for about $510 million as the ‌contract

research firm seeks greater control over procurement of ​the

animals used in drug safety testing.

The acquisition ‍of K.F. (Cambodia) Ltd, which has

supplied ⁠around ⁠30% of the NHPs used by the company's drug

discovery ‌and safety assessment ​unit over the last two years,

will also help save costs, Charles ⁠River said.

The contract ‍researcher had ​in

2023

suspended the shipment of NHPs from Cambodia as the

Department of Justice and ‍U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

investigated the company over smuggling of wild long-tailed

macaques to the United States.

"The planned ownership of K.F. will enable greater

oversight and operational ​control ‍of a key supply source,

including a continued focus on biosecurity, regulatory

compliance, ​and audit practices," Charles River said.

Including Noveprim, Charles River's NHP supplier in

Mauritius, the deal will allow it to own and internally source

most of its future annual NHP supply requirements ​for DSA, it

added.

The deal is expected to close early in the first quarter of

2026.