Manipal AcuNova acquires German company

Manipal AcuNova Ltd (MAL), a Bangalore-based clinical research organisation, has completed the acquisition of Germany-based CRO, Ecron GmbH, to form Ecron Acunova.

The two CROs will now combine the clinical research expertise of Ecron's 20 years of experience, with MAL's association with Manipal Medical University.

MAL provides Phase I "� IV clinical development services including project management, clinical data management, biostatistics, medical writing, bio-availability and bio equivalence.

With research facilities in Bangalore, Mangalore and Manipal, MAL is a university-backed CRO with preferred access to the university's 19 teaching hospitals. Ecron, is a European expert CRO for clinical development of medicinal products for human use.

The new company will provide end-to-end services for Phase I "� IV clinical trials to pharma, biotech, device and diagnostic companies.

The combined strength will be 265 employees and is slated to grow. Frankfurt will be European HQ, Princeton for US and Bangalore for Asia. The entity will has combined revenues of Rs 56 crore.

While DA Prasanna, vice-chairman and MD, will continue to lead the global operations from Bangalore, Dr Wiedey will be president, Europe and Dr Kohkan Shamsi will be CEO in the US.

Speaking on the development, Dr Wiedey, president, Ecron, said, "This collaboration will benefit our European and US clients. The possibility of extending trials from Europe to India will make drug development faster."

DA Prasanna, vice-chairman and founder, MAL, said, "Industry experience shows bringing a drug into market takes 8-10 years. Indian CROs do not have a track record in seeing a drug through development and into market. Hence this merger will combine MAL's access to investigators and patients with Ecron's quality reputation making drugs available faster."