According to the company, hyperCore International is the second largest network of clinical research site organizations in the world, with more than 80 sites across five countries.
Making its debut earlier this month at the 2019 ACRP Conference, the company won a total of four awards, including the inaugural ACRP All-Star Challenge.
Founding partner members include Benchmark Research, Clinical Trials of Texas, Diex Research, Fomat Medical Research, Iact Health, LMC Manna Research, Research Centers of America (RCA), and Wake Research.
Mark Lacy – the mastermind behind hyperCore and CEO of Benchmark Research – called the company the “network of networks.”
Serving as the company’s CEO, Lacy formed hyperCore after aligning with his veteran colleagues in the space, wanting to improve efficiencies by centralizing and consolidating successful site businesses.
Making the network different is its partnership model, Lacy told us, as each partner is an equal owner despite its individual company size – not unlike the Knights of the Round Table. “All are looking to leverage each other’s strengths and create new efficiencies,” he explained.
Lacy also noted the importance of the company’s international reach, noting that its customers want global coverage, so a “major piece” of the consortium will be to bring in companies in Latin and Central America, Australia and Asia PAC, Europe and particularly Eastern Europe, in addition to the US.
Site consolidation gains traction
With an increasing focus on clinical trial sites as key stakeholders in the industry, Lacy said the timing of the company’s formation is appropriate. “Sites conduct the most intimate part of the trial process by delivering needed access to therapeutics for patients, and conducting the actual research and collecting the data sponsors and CROs desperately require for R&D,” he added.
Additionally, following the merger mania of the contract research industry, Lacy said, “the new frontier of site consolidation is starting to gain traction,” positioning the group to “benefit by achieving critical mass almost right out of the gate.”
The company has established unified marketing and business development functions, and will be harmonizing clinical operations through common platforms and best practices.
“There will be an application process so that all sites can be vetted as worthy of joining this super network of sites,” said Lacy. “Significantly, hyperCore already has the largest company in Canada overall and Quebec, and sites from Lima Peru to Calgary Canada.”