WCCT eyes niche market with early-stage opthalmic acquisition

By Dan Stanton

- Last updated on GMT

WCCT buys OC Clinical Trials & Consulting to boost ophthalmologyoffering
WCCT buys OC Clinical Trials & Consulting to boost ophthalmologyoffering
WCCT Global has acquired OC Clinical Trials & Consulting to boost its early-stage ophthalmology services and fill a gap in the market, the firm says.

The California, US based contract research organization (CRO) has increased its research capabilities to include glaucoma, oculoplastics, corneal and external ocular disease, and paediatric ophthalmic conditions, with the purchase of nearby firm OC Clinical Trials & Consulting for an undisclosed ammount.

“Clinical development is trending toward the incorporation of patient populations earlier and earlier into the development process,”​ Talia Nikolao, VP Business Development, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.

“While there are many late stage ophthalmology research sites, there are very few Phase I units that can do early stage trials in a Phase I setting within the ophthalmology population,”​ she continued. “We want to provide this capability to our sponsors in ophthalmology and other select areas where we feel we have medical, scientific, and operational expertise.”

She added: “Our strategy is to provide exceptional value to our Sponsors in therapeutic areas where we have medical, scientific, and operational expertise,”​ and “our goal from this acquisition is to be able to provide phase I-IV clinical trial solutions.”

WCCT did have some ophthalmology capabilities prior to the acquisition, according to Nikolao, but this acquisition brings “medical expertise and a much more robust patient database.”

A research database of over 10,000 ophthalmology patients and approximately ten research staff will indeed enhance WCCT’s services, as will the two clinical research sites located within walking distance of WCCT’s three current Californian units.

As for integration, OC Clinical trials is in the process of being incorporated with WCCT, Nikolao said, “with WCCT providing Business Development and marketing support.WCCT is also providing Project Management and other Operations Management leadership.”

The growing demand for integrated early-phase ophthalmology services was also cited in a recent partnership between Calvert labs and EyeCRO​, with the latter firm telling this publication in June that large pharma companies not typically in the eye-health field are increasingly exploring ophthalmic indications for their molecules.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Using Define-XML to build more efficient studies

Using Define-XML to build more efficient studies

Content provided by Formedix | 14-Nov-2023 | White Paper

It is commonly thought that Define-XML is simply a dataset descriptor: a way to document what datasets look like, including the names and labels of datasets...

Overcoming rapid growth challenges with process liquid preparation

Overcoming rapid growth challenges with process liquid preparation

Content provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific - Process Liquid Preparation Services | 01-Nov-2023 | Case Study

A growing contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) was challenged with the need to quickly expand their process liquid and buffer preparation...

Why should you use clinical trial technology?

Why should you use clinical trial technology?

Content provided by Formedix | 01-Nov-2023 | White Paper

New, innovative clinical trial technology is helping to revolutionize the research landscape. COVID-19 demonstrated that clinical trials can be run much...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars