TFS (Trial Form Support) International, a full-service contract research organisation based in Lund, Sweden, has ramped up its capabilities for oncology and vaccine studies, as well as raising its profile in the North American market, by acquiring fellow CRO Beardsworth Consulting Group (BCG) for an undisclosed sum.
With headquarters in Flemington, US and a team of clinical research professionals operating throughout North America, BCG’s speciality is complex clinical trials in the oncology, vaccines and other significant therapeutic categories.
The two companies already have a history of partnering on a number of global clinical-trial programmes in oncology and other therapeutic areas.
Operational processes and quality systems for these collaborations have been well established, “which will facilitate an efficient integration between the two groups as well as ensuring business continuity and focus on the ongoing clinical projects and customers”, TFS noted.
The US organisation will be the responsibility of Hani Zaki, TFS’ executive vice president and president, Americas since June 2012.
Global strategy
The acquisition of BCG is in line with TFS’ global strategy, boosting its North American presence to 600 professionals with comparable capabilities and expertise to the CRO’s European business, it noted.
The deal will complement TFS’ existing competencies in oncology and vaccines, among other therapeutic areas, as well as providing scalable operational resources throughout North America, the company added.
BCG’s offering includes comprehensive clinical research services along with project management and monitoring across all study phases, data management, biostatistics, regulatory consulting and medical writing.
Active and growing
According to Daniel Spasic, chief executive officer of TFS, BCG “adds competencies in active and growing therapeutic areas, increases our operational capabilities in North America and expands substantially our customer portfolio of smaller and mid-sized life science companies in one of the most important global research markets”.
The deal follows two other TFS transactions over the last five months. Last December it acquired Dimensione Ricerca, a privately held contract research organisation based in Rome and Milan, Italy.
At the end of January 2013, TFS took over the contract research business of Sweden’s Semcon, which specialises in technology solutions such as electronic data capture.
