Comac Medical Group, a UK-based contract research organization (CRO) backed by EdgeCap Partners, has acquired ILIFE Consulting, a specialized CRO headquartered in Paris, France. Announced on May 22, 2025, the acquisition strengthens Comac's expertise in oncology, rare diseases, and complex biotech clinical trials while expanding its European presence.
The transaction represents a significant milestone in Comac's strategy to become the leading pan-European full-service CRO partner for small and medium-sized biopharma companies. This acquisition follows Comac's recent expansions into the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Founded in 2013 by Marina Iché, ILIFE has built a strong reputation for delivering high-value strategic consulting alongside clinical trial execution for biotech sponsors. The company specializes in early-phase oncology and biotech development, providing services from protocol design to full clinical trial execution, including first-in-human and multi-country studies.
Enhanced Service Capabilities
The integration of ILIFE into Comac Medical Group will create new opportunities for clients through a more comprehensive service offering. Clients will benefit from enhanced capabilities in biostatistics, data management, pharmacovigilance, and bioanalytical services, complemented by access to Comac Medical's state-of-the-art Early Phase Clinical Research Unit.
Marina Iché, Founder and CEO of ILIFE Consulting, will continue in her leadership role and become a significant shareholder in the Group. This arrangement aims to support strategic growth initiatives while maintaining continuity of ILIFE's values and services.
"Partnering with EdgeCap and Comac Medical Group marks an exciting new chapter for ILIFE," said Iché. "We share a deep commitment to quality, innovation, client-centric and agile service delivery. Joining forces allows us to leverage additional resources, broaden our service portfolio, and better serve our clients across Europe and beyond."
Strategic Alignment with Recent Leadership Changes
This acquisition closely follows Comac Medical Group's recent leadership appointments, including Dr. Chris Smyth as incoming CEO (effective September 1, 2025), Christian Buhlmann as Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Windisch as Chief Operations Officer, and Neil Ferguson as Chairman of the Board.
"ILIFE Consulting's expertise and established presence in the French biotech ecosystem significantly strengthen our capabilities as part of the Group," said Chris Smyth, Incoming CEO of Comac Medical Group. "I look forward to working closely with Marina and the ILIFE team as we collaborate to create meaningful value for our stakeholders and deliver excellence across our expanded geographic and therapeutic landscape."
Complementary Expertise and Infrastructure
Comac Medical Group operates across more than 30 countries in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, providing comprehensive early to late-phase drug development services across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, rare diseases, dermatology, gastroenterology, and respiratory diseases.
The Group's FDA and EMA-inspected Clinical Research Unit for Phase I, bioavailability, and bioequivalence studies is based in Sofia. With 20 years of experience in early-phase clinical research, the facility is the largest in the region, comprising 42 beds, an on-site pharmacy, and clinical and bioanalytical laboratories.
ILIFE brings complementary expertise in oncology and rare diseases, having partnered with over 20 biotech sponsors across Europe. The company's senior team of scientific and clinical leaders has established a reputation for delivering high-impact studies that accelerate timelines, optimize data quality, and help clients make confident, value-driven decisions.
The combined entity aims to leverage these complementary strengths to better serve the growing market of small and medium-sized biopharma companies seeking specialized CRO partners with pan-European capabilities and therapeutic area expertise.
