RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – CATO SMS, a Triangle-based clinical research organization, is getting larger, merging with U.K.-based Pharm-Olam in a deal announced early Wednesday.

Mark Goldberg, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer, CATO SMS, will lead the combined venture.

“CATO SMS and Pharm-Olam are creating an organization that will lead the industry in addressing an exciting opportunity and tremendous need,” Goldberg said in the announcement. “Together, we will provide smaller biopharmaceutical companies with a differentiated offering anchored by deep scientific expertise, a partnership model and comprehensive solutions to successfully navigate the complexities of bringing novel treatments to market. Put simply, our goal is to be the market leader in meeting the needs of small to mid-sized biopharmaceutical companies.”

Mark A Goldberg, chairman & CEO of CATO SMS (Photo courtesy of CATO SMS)

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

The target market for the combined company is providing services to design and manage clinical studies for small and mid-sized businesses. These firms represent 70% of the intellectual property produced by the biopharma industry, CATO SMS explained.

Services will be available for clinical programs across Phase I-IV, the company explained.

Highlights:

  • a comprehensive suite of solutions including full-service clinical trial operations, biometrics services and clinical pharmacology (including population pK, modeling and simulation)
  • world-class consulting including clinical development, global regulatory strategy and submissions, non-clinical, and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC)
  • an expanded global footprint spanning 35 offices and 60+ countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, India and the Middle East
  • scientific and drug development expertise in complex therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare disease, infectious diseases, cell and gene therapy, immunology and central nervous diseases
  • high-touch service from a global workforce of 1,200+ employees possessing advanced medical and scientific degrees and deep clinical and technical expertise
  • the ability to perform clinical research for the U.S. government as one of the few contract research organizations pre-qualified to do so

As part of the merger, Rob Davie, the CEO of Pharm-Olam, will retire.