PRA International claims to be the fourth-largest contract research organisation (CRO) in the industry after completing its merger with fellow US-based provider ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services (RPS).
As previously indicated, RPS will operate as PRA’s Strategic Solutions Division under the leadership of former RPS chief executive officer (CEO) Harris Koffer, as president of the new unit, and of former RPS president Samir Shah as chief operating officer.
Fronting the combined enterprise is PRA’s existing CEO, Colin Shannon, who said the RPS Strategic Solutions Division would “continue to operate as RPS has previously, which should enable a seamless integration with absolutely no disruption for our clients”.
In early August KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts), the US-based investment firm that snapped up PRA International from Genstar Capital last June, announced a definitive agreement to acquire ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services from its private-equity owner, Warburg Pincus.
New chapter
Shannon hailed the merger as “a new chapter for both organisations. We have a supportive long-term partner in KKR and the combination with RPS makes PRA a stronger organisation, offering our customers a more comprehensive range of services through our expanded capabilities and therapeutic expertise”.
RPS is known for its Embedded clinical development model, which it has pursued through an established presence in North America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), as well as specialised capabilities in Latin America and Asia.
The company has more than 4,000 employees located in over 64 countries, which gives PRA a full complement of nearly 10,000 employees with operations and resources in 80 countries across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
The combined enterprise will offer clients a full suite of clinical-research services, both embedded and programmatic, PRA noted.
