Singapore - Novotech the largest Asia-Pacific-based CRO has acquired Australasian specialist CRO Clinical Network Services (CNS) as part of a mutual mission to expand services to biopharma for early phase product development and clinical research through to later phase regional and global trials.

Both companies will continue to retain their separate brands and identities.

Early phase CNS clients wishing to advance development into later phase regional trials can tap into Novotech’s Asia-Pacific expertise backed by 10 partnership agreements with leading hospitals and medical institutions that offer access to more than 1.4 billion people living in urban areas in the region.

Novotech has more than 400 staff across Asia-Pacific and business development offices in the USA, and CNS has more than 140 staff in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

As part of the deal, clients can access leading services from both groups including the CNS BioDesk, that provides early stage product development advice including toxicology, CMC and FDA/EMA regulatory consulting and interactions; and Novotech’s advanced regional IT infrastructure, to support their clinical research programs.

Novotech CEO John Moller said: “Biopharma clients should know this is a bringing together of the highest quality CROs in the region.   Very importantly, we have developed remarkably similar company cultures, and I know the teams are excited about the opportunity to work together. Novotech and CNS will continue to operate under separate brands with CNS specialising in early phase non-oncology clinical trials across Australia and New Zealand, and Novotech specialising in regional Asia-Pacific and global project delivery across all phases. Our Asia-Pacific in-country relationships enable a comprehensive understanding of local regulatory requirements and changes, access to leading investigators, strong site connections, and accessible patient populations to deliver success for our clients within timelines and budgets.”