Australian CRO Avance buys C3 Research to support sponsors as programs advance

By Nick Taylor

- Last updated on GMT

© RapidEye / Getty Images
© RapidEye / Getty Images

Related tags CRO M&A Clinical trials acquisition

Australian CRO Avance Clinical has expanded in North America by acquiring C3 Research Associates, positioning it to continue supporting sponsors as they move into later-phase studies that need US sites.

Avance has used the favorable environment for early-phase trials in Australia, which offers a 43.5% tax rebate and has no investigational new drug application requirement, to win business from sponsors that want to accelerate their first steps into the clinic. However, the CRO has then faced challenges as clients have progressed and expanded programs to include US sites, leading to the buyout of Seattle-based C3.

We have been limited by not having our own presence in the US. For some biotech companies the use of a trusted CRO partner model is not ideal​,” said Avance CEO Yvonne Lungershausen. “Our US footprint and global solution now allows us to seamlessly transition programs into North America as the one single organization with full CRO services, without loss of revenue and reduced management burden​.”

As sponsors come to add sites beyond Australia and New Zealand, Avance’s traditional areas of focus, the newly enlarged CRO will seek to retain their business by offering the support of its North American unit. Avance is pitching the model, branded GlobalReady​, as a way to retain study knowledge, processes, and teams, and operationalize global dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials across the two regions.

The CRO is planning “significant investments​” in its US operations to support the model. Through the investments, Avance wants to grow the team to more than 120 people and establish expertise in a range of therapeutic areas, particularly oncology.

Avance has now begun integrating its systems and processes with those of C3. Lungershausen said the CRO’s decision to buy a trusted partner that it has experience of working with is a reflection of its desire to ensure there is already a “strong business alignment which will facilitate a smooth integration​,” a critical process for all takeovers.

We have engaged experienced professionals to support our integration and have developed a comprehensive integration plan​,” said the CEO. “We are taking a considered and stepwise approach to integration with no plans to lose people and indeed the opposite – we have plans to expand the already solid footprint that we now have in North America​.”

The North American acquisition, which follows a private equity investment in Avance, reflects the fact the progress of programs from Australia and New Zealand to the US makes “perfect logical sense for most of our clients​,” said Lungershausen. However, the CEO is “not dismissing opportunities in Asia and Europe as next steps​.”

Related products

show more

Are You Prepared to Meet the New FDA Guidelines?

Are You Prepared to Meet the New FDA Guidelines?

Elligo Health Research® | 23-Mar-2023 | Insight Guide

On April 15, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a new draft guidance to clinical research sponsors on creating a plan to enroll more participants...

ODM and CDASH in CRF design

ODM and CDASH in CRF design

Formedix | 10-Mar-2023 | Technical / White Paper

The lesser-known Operational Data Model (ODM) standard is often overlooked as it's not required by any regulators. So, why should you be interested...

4 Warning Signs Your Research Site Is in Trouble

4 Warning Signs Your Research Site Is in Trouble

Elligo Health Research® | 10-Mar-2023 | Insight Guide

You want your clinical research practice to be a success for your business and your patients, but how can you tell if it’s in trouble? Read this article...

How Sponsors Reduce Chaos in Decentralized Trials

How Sponsors Reduce Chaos in Decentralized Trials

Florence Healthcare | 08-Mar-2023 | Insight Guide

89% of research sponsors currently use and expect to continue the use of decentralized technologies and methods, according to our state of the industry...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars