, a global digital clinical research organization (dCRO), and Swiss-based PFC Pharma Focus (PFC) jointly announced a definitive merger agreement under which Clinipace Worldwide has acquired all outstanding shares of privately-held PFC and its subsidiaries. Based in Zurich, Switzerland—with offices in Germany, Israel, and India—PFC is a pan-European contract research provider focused on drug and medical device development services and regulatory consulting.

The combination of PFC and Clinipace Worldwide creates a global dCRO with centralized North American, South American, and European hubs for strategic drug and medical device product development, clinical operations, data management, regulatory affairs, and GxP/CMC quality assurance. The companies share a collective vision of helping emerging and mid-tier life science firms clients serve patients by substantially accelerating the drug and device development processes via technology-amplified services. Clinipace is strongly differentiated in the marketplace through its proprietary technology–based dCRO value proposition which gives clients more control over timelines and resources, enhanced project visibility, reduced cost, and improved risk mitigation.

“With this acquisition, our third in the past 18 months, we have assembled the right global footprint and the right mix of global therapeutic expertise, strategic product development assets and operational capabilities to uniquely meet the needs of our clients,” commented Jeff Williams, CEO and Chairman, Clinipace Worldwide. “Together with the PFC team we’re better positioned to serve the needs of our clients by quickly and efficiently scaling to support their global phase 2-3 trials across a number of therapeutic areas and indications.”

PFC was co-founded in 1992 by Kurt Pfister, PhD, and Kathryn Voegeli, PhD, and brings twenty years of broad multi-therapeutic experience to Clinipace Worldwide. Kurt and Kathryn join the executive team as CEO of European Operations and COO of European Operations, respectively. Jeff Williams will remain the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the combined company.

Clinipace Worldwide’s European headquarters will be based in Zurich, Switzerland with regional offices in Munich, Germany, Tel-Aviv, Israel, and New Delhi, India. The company will maintain its global headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC with additional domestic operations in Overland Park, KS, and Boulder, CO, and South American offices based in Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.