Invicro, LLC provides imaging services and software for research and drug development.
UK-based Imanova is a translational research company that specializes applying positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning techniques in early drug development.
The acquisition, financial terms of which were not disclosed, combines the companies’ imaging science and analytics capabilities and enhances Invicro’s existing capabilities to support drug discovery and development from pre-clinical to late phase imaging studies, said Jack Hoppin, co-founder and CEO of Invicro.
“Imanova’s leading expertise in radio-chemistry, pre-clinical and clinical imaging, modeling and analysis will help Invicro accelerate the development of novel imaging methodology and quantitative biomarker development,” Hoppin told us.
Additionally, located in London, Imanova will provide a base for Invicro to expand its services into Europe, he added. “In particular, providing a base for more timely customer interactions in our Core Lab business.”
Kevin Cox, CEO, Imanova, added: “Having clinical imaging expertise on two continents provides a unique opportunity to run larger-scale multi-center trials with in-house control of the radiochemistry and imaging.”
Moving forward, the companies will merge to become one global organization. The resulting company – “an informatics-enabled contract research organization” – will provide software, imaging platforms (MRI, PET, SPECT, etc.), as well as biomarker development and manufacturing expertise.
“The combined enterprise has a unique offering that can improve drug development and the application of quantitative imaging biomarkers resulting in better research trial end-points, accelerated timelines and improved decision-making strategies,” Cox told us.
Over the next three years, he said Invicro will invest in Imanova’s UK operations to expand its novel imaging biomarker R&D and manufacturing and pre-clinical sciences. It will also look to strengthen its MRI capabilities and, in the near term, provide enhanced core lab and multi-site management services, he explained.
“In addition to providing critical information for drug developers, regulators are increasing their focus on the knowledge that biological imaging can provide on drug safety and efficacy,” added Cox. “The development of novel quantitative biomarkers positions biomedical imaging at the forefront of drug development, providing previously unattainable data on disease systems and drug pathways.”