Clario, a leading provider of digital endpoint data solutions for clinical trials, has completed its acquisition of WCG's electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA) business, the company announced today. This strategic acquisition significantly enhances Clario's capabilities in neuroscience drug development and strengthens its position in delivering high-quality data collection and analysis solutions across therapeutic areas.
The acquisition comes at a critical time for neuroscience research, where reliable endpoint data is essential for advancing treatments in areas with significant unmet medical needs. By integrating WCG's specialized eCOA technologies and expertise, Clario aims to provide more comprehensive support for complex clinical trials.
"I am excited to bring WCG's eCOA team and technologies to Clario," said Chris Fikry, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Clario. "Along with our recent acquisition of neurology imaging analysis experts, NeuroRx, we are positioned to be the true leader in delivering endpoint data solutions to neuroscience clinical trials. Our clients now have access to the most reliable, high-quality data across multiple modalities and all major neuroscience endpoints."
Enhanced Capabilities for Neuroscience Research
The integration of WCG's eCOA business expands Clario's already extensive capabilities in neuroscience drug development. The company now offers a more comprehensive suite of services including:
- Study design and protocol development
- Site selection and training
- Clinical outcomes assessments
- Centralized image analysis
- Cardiac safety expertise
- Quantitative movement analysis
- Regulatory guidance
This expanded portfolio enables Clario to address the complex challenges inherent in neuroscience clinical trials, where precise measurement of subjective outcomes is often critical to demonstrating efficacy.
Terry Burke, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Clario's eCOA business, described the acquisition as "a game-changer for clinical research in neuroscience." He emphasized that the integration has been carefully planned to ensure continuity for ongoing trials.
"WCG has made significant contributions to eCOA in neuroscience trials, and we have long respected their achievements in this space," Burke stated. "We've planned a seamless integration with an aim on preserving what's already working well — trials will continue uninterrupted, and the platforms and study teams customers rely on will remain in place."
Strategic Growth and Investment
This acquisition represents the latest in Clario's strategic investments in innovation and growth. The company has been co-owned by Astorg and Nordic Capital, two private equity firms with healthcare sector expertise, since 2019. Novo Holdings and Cinven also support Clario as minority shareholders.
In a joint statement, Judith Charpentier, co-head of Flagship & head of Healthcare at Astorg, and Daniel Berglund, co-head of Healthcare at Nordic Capital Advisors, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: "We are truly excited about Clario's strategic acquisition of WCG's eCOA business, which will further strengthen its position as a global leader in clinical trial endpoint solutions. We are proud to continue our collaboration with Clario's leadership team and support the company's continued growth and innovation journey."
Industry Impact and Future Directions
The acquisition is expected to have significant implications for neuroscience drug development, an area where precise measurement of clinical outcomes is particularly challenging. By combining WCG's specialized eCOA capabilities with Clario's existing expertise, the company aims to accelerate the development of breakthrough therapies.
Clario has established itself as a major player in the clinical trials industry, with its endpoint data solutions having been deployed over 26,000 times to support clinical trials in more than 100 countries. The company's global team has supported over 60% of all FDA drug approvals since 2012, highlighting its significant role in drug development across therapeutic areas.
With this acquisition, Clario further solidifies its position as a comprehensive provider of endpoint data solutions, offering technologies that combine medical imaging, eCOA, precision motion, cardiac solutions, and respiratory endpoints. This integrated approach is particularly valuable for neuroscience trials, where multiple data modalities often need to be analyzed in concert to demonstrate treatment effects.
For pharmaceutical companies and research organizations conducting neuroscience clinical trials, this acquisition promises access to more sophisticated data collection and analysis capabilities, potentially accelerating the development of new treatments for neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders.
