American Clinical Research Services (ACRS) has bought Elixia, a clinical trial research network with operations in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Missouri.
The acquisition – terms of which were not disclosed – expands ACRS’ trial site network to 12 locations across the US. New sites include Elixia’s 40 bed Phase I clinical trial unit in Tampa, Florida, which specialized in drug studies that require renal and hepatically impaired patients.
Buying Elixia has also added capabilities in clinical trials in areas like nephrology, neuroscience, and infectious disease according to ACRS.
CEO Dustin Owen said "The integration of Elixia not only broadens our capabilities in nephrology but also enhances our collective expertise in neuroscience and allows us to multiply our sites capable of conducting complex metabolic indications.
“Elixia’s presence in multiple states enhances our ability to access a diverse range of participants across the nation, beyond our current footprint of Southern California and Texas, enriching the breadth and depth of our research endeavors,” he added.
This was echoed by Neal Patel, co-founder of Elixia, who emphasized the synergistic potential of the combined firms.
"Joining forces with ACRS amplifies our shared commitment to advancing research in challenging therapeutic areas. This union augments our resources, expands our site capabilities and enhances our ability to launch and sustain studies that promise to dramatically improve patient outcomes."
Raleigh, North Carolina-based ACRS was founded in 2022 by Dallas-headquartered private equity organisation Latticework Capital Management (LCM) following the acquisition of Montclair, California-based Catalina Research Institute (CRI).
At the time the firm said CRI would give it capabilities in clinical trials in therapeutic areas like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes and other metabolic diseases as well as central nervous system.
Prior to the Elixia deal, the contract research organization (CRO) acquired patient recruitment firm, Clinical Site Services and healthcare-focused advertising agency, Patient Advertising Guru, in May last year.
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