Headlands buys Puerto Rico-based clinical research site

US drug trials contractor Headlands Research has acquired San Juan, Puerto Rico-based clinical site CMRCenter to access the diverse patient pool.

The deal will give the Florida-based CRO access to a database of over 10,000 engaged participants as well as capabilities in vaccine, CNS, and specialty studies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headlands CEO Kyle Burtnett cited CMRC’s “deep ties to Puerto Rico’s diverse, FDA-regulated patient community” as the driver for the acquisition.

“By uniting CMRC’s Harvard-trained leadership and expert staff with Headlands Research’s network-wide resources, systems, and best practices, we will accelerate research and bring urgently needed therapies to patients faster,” he said.

According to Headlands, CMRC consistently exceeds pediatric and adult Phase II–IV enrollment targets while sustaining a 90% retention rate in vaccines, early Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatology, and migraine-focused studies.

In a press statement, CMRC CEO Carmen Navarro said the deal will offer “our community earlier access to innovative therapies, broadening the therapeutic areas we serve, and adding Puerto Rico’s diverse voice to global studies that will benefit patients everywhere.”

Network expansion

Headlands operates a 22-site network of clinical research facilities built mainly through acquisitions carried out over the past few years.

In May 2023, for example, it bought Springfield, Missouri-based Clinvest Research, a site with experience testing drugs for chronic diseases, migraine, arthritis, chronic pain, diabetes, and weight loss.

More recently, the CRO acquired Baltimore, Maryland-based PharmaSite Research, a provider of services for trials treatments for mental illness and CNS disorders.

In September, it announced plans to set up a clinical research facility in El Paso, Texas, framing it as an opportunity to increase its ability to recruit Hispanic people into drug research.

According to the firm, five of its sites are currently involved in a Pfizer effort to improve diversity in clinical research.

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