Advarra purchases IntegReview IRB

10-Nov-2020 - Last updated on 10-Nov-2020 at 16:27 GMT

(RG-vc/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

The institutional review board services provider has acquired the AAHRPP-accredited central IRB, which specializes in early-phase research.

Advarra provides institutional review board (IRB), institutional biosafety committee (IBC), quality and compliance consulting services, as well as research technology solutions. The addition of IntegReview IRB, with a focus on early-phase clinical research, reportedly will enable Advarra to further its expansion of review solutions capability offerings in North America.

Gadi Saarony, Advarra’s CEO, said the two firms share a mission and focus, including ensuring patient participants are protected.

“Our aim is to benefit clinical trials and drug development through expanded subject matter expertise, technology-enabled efficiencies, and continuing commitment to ethics, quality, and service,” he said.

The current Austin, Texas, headquarters for IntegReview IRB will become the first Advarra office in the southern US. According to the companies, the acquisition also increases and explands Advarra’s depth of expertise in many areas, including early-phase research.

“We are excited to be a part of the Advarra family,” said Lynn Meyer, founder and managing partner of IntegReview IRB. “We were attracted to Advarra’s extensive regulatory depth and their model of integrated IRB operations and focus on building client relationships and deep collaboration with the site community.”

According to Advarra, the expanded capabilities afforded by the acquisition stands to help them provide clients in the research community and biopharma industry with integrated solutions to advance healthcare. Additionally, the purchase reportedly enables Advarra to extend its regulatory compliance expertise and further increase its reach, serving more than 3,200 research institutions, hospital systems, and academic medical centers.

Scott Uebele, president and CRSO of Advarra Research Services, said, “Integrating IntegReview into Advarra will take approximately six months and immediately augments our early phase board expertise. IntegReview’s demonstrated knowledge and reputation in clinical pharmacology offers Advarra clients exceptional service for IRB review during early development and ensures the highest quality ethical oversight and participant safety.”

In May 2020, Advarra acquired IRBco, another accredited central IRB.