MORRISVILLE – Worldwide Clinical Trials, which touts itself as “the cure for the common CRO,” is growing.

The Triangle-based clinical research firm says it is acquiring the “late stage” practice of Illinois-based Continuum Clinical. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Worldwide Clinical Trials

The deal  adds to Worldwide’s “ability to help life sciences industry sponsors establish evidence of value at every stage of the product life cycle,” according to the company. Added employees will become part of Worldwide’s Worldwide Evidence business unit.

Worldwide focuses on central nervous system, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, oncology and rare disease research.

The CRO is seeking to capitalize on growing demand for “real-world evidence studies,” or RWE.

“[S]ome [are] estimating that the use of real-world data has doubled in just the past five years,” Worldwide noted.

“Increasingly employed as a critical complement to traditional controlled clinical trials, RWE delivers value as part of the entire life cycle of medical products – particularly in decisions on product use, coverage and reimbursement. In fact, the FDA recently issued guidance on the use of RWE in the development of devices and is working on policies to support its use in expanded drug approvals and post-approval requirements.”

Worldwide Chief Operating Officer Peter Benton said of the deal:

“Sponsors, healthcare providers and regulators are seeking better data and evidence to design, deliver and manage healthcare. CROs can be their greatest ally – by helping to accelerate generation of evidence and real-world outcomes data on the clinical, economic and humanistic impact of new drug and device solutions. We look forward to building upon Continuum Clinical’s Late Stage leadership team’s decades of industry-leading experience to expand our Worldwide Evidence service offerings and offer what no other CRO can – an uncommon blend of real-world evidence understanding and global operational strength.”

Jeff Trotter, the president of Continuum Clinical Late Stage, will lead the expanded Worldwide Evidence business unit.

Worldwide employs more than 1,600 people and has offices in North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, and Asia.