1MED buys Italian CRO LB Research to build in Southern Europe

Medical device contractor 1MED has acquired clinical services provider LB Research to increase its presence in Southern Europe.

The deal will see Como, Italy-based LB Research’s 24-strong team of clinical and trial management professionals join 1MED’s staff.. The financial terms were not provided.

The Agno, Switzerland-based company said the acquisition was a step forward in expanding its clinical operations and strengthening its foothold in both the European pharmaceutical and medical device markets.

“It will provide us with an even stronger footprint in Italy and Southern Europe and reinforce some of the therapeutic areas we already operate in - cardiovascular and dermatology - while expanding our oncology capabilities,” 1MED chair Andrea Biffi said.

1MED cited LB Research’s track record in oncology studies and its “diverse client portfolio, including well established global and Italian pharmaceutical companies” as prompts for the acquisition.

The LB Research deal is in keeping with the regional growth strategy 1MED has employed when it bought French CRO Evamed in September 2023. At the time the firm said the acquisition established its position in a key European market.

The strategy also saw 1MED acquire fellow Switzerland-based preclinical contract services provider 1LAB in November 2023.

European growth

1MED is owned by London-based private equity firm Apposite Capital, which acquired 1MED in 2021, citing its potential growth in the medical device field as the main motivation for the deal.

Apposite Capital partner Anne-Laure Meynier framed the acquisition of LB Research as part of that growth effort.

“The addition of LB to the 1MED family is a significant move for us that in particular strengthens our clinical CRO services throughout Europe, further adding customizable solutions to the 1MED offering” she said.

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