Massachusetts, US-based Outcome Sciences will become part of the North Carolina-headquartered contract research organisation’s (CRO) clinical services unit and specifically its Ph IV or post-approval study services arm.
Louise Parmenter, Quintiles’ senior director for Late Phase Strategic Planning, told Outsourcing-pharma.com that: “Outcome Sciences was identified as best in class and fills a specific need for Quintiles’ customers.
She explained that before buying Outcome Sciences, Quintiles had only a limited presence in the observational research sector adding that: “This acquisition will help to position Quintiles more favorably and creditably with customers who may not have considered Quintiles as a Late Phase specialty CRO.”
Quintiles move also fits with recent observations about the late-phase research sector. Last month Kevin Olsen from ISR Reports told Outsoucring-pharma.com that sponsors are increasingly looking towards large CROs with scale for their post approval trial needs.
Market access buy
In contrast with Outcomes’ clinical focus, VCG & Associates' remit is commercial.
The firm specialises in the development of marketing plans for Pharma and Biotech companies wishing to enter the US market, particularly those trying to do so for the first time.
The purchase fits with Quintiles’ efforts to build in the market access services space, which began with its acquisition of Nycomed’s UK marketing team in May last year and continued with the takeover of Italy’s regulatory services Temas in July.
Rich Pilnik, president of Quintiles’ global commercial solutions team, said: “VCG complements our solutions and capabilities within both our commercial and consulting divisions with emerging biopharma, companies looking to establish a commercial presence in the US, and drug development companies entering the commercial space for the first time.”
Both the purchases are in keeping with the acquisition plan that Quintiles floated earlier this year after it secured a $2.4bn (EUR1.7bn) credit facility.