INC Research Further Expands Geographic Footprint with Acquisition of Leading Middle Eastern CRO MEK Consulting

Published on: March 6, 2014

Company News Release

Acquisition provides customers improved access to Middle East and North Africa region as well as Southern Europe

INC Research, LLC, a therapeutically focused global clinical research organization (CRO) with a Trusted Process® for delivering reliable results, today announced it has acquired MEK Consulting, a leading clinical monitoring-focused CRO based in Lebanon with operations in Greece, Turkey and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The move supports INC’s strategic business expansion in high-growth regions to deliver global trials for its biopharmaceutical customers, and positions the Company as a leading drug development partner in MENA, which offers access to more than 200 million new patients.

“The MENA region offers significant opportunities for new drug development due to its large patient populations, highly qualified medical personnel and increasingly sophisticated regulatory environments,” said INC Research Chief Executive Officer Jamie Macdonald. "The acquisition of MEK Consulting provides INC Research’s customers with access to this expanding region for biopharmaceutical development and further demonstrates our commitment to connect them to everything they need to conduct their trials.”

The acquisition builds on INC Research’s longstanding relationship with MEK Consulting, which spans more than a decade. Founded in 1999 by Myriam El-Khazen and Selim Dagher, MEK Consulting has strategically grown to become one of the most experienced and respected CROs in the region. With more than 40 employees across five countries and experience on more than 120 studies, MEK Consulting is a clinical monitoring-focused CRO that offers a well-established infrastructure and complementary therapeutic expertise, including oncology, general medicine and rare diseases. Myriam El-Khazen and Selim Dagher will assume the roles of General Manager and Executive Director, Commercial Operations, respectively, with overall responsibility for managing INC Research’s presence in the region. MEK Consulting will operate as INC Research and will conduct business under the INC Research name.

"We are very excited to be joining INC Research," said Myriam El-Khazen. "We believe this acquisition will bring the MENA region and Southern Europe to a new era in clinical research. This will be advantageous for our customers, the patients in the region and our company. Being part of INC Research, one of the world's leading CROs, will enable us to bring more trials to the region, benefiting patients and health institutions while providing biopharmaceutical companies access to the capabilities and resources of a global organization.”