• The acquisition illustrates the Group’s strategy to strengthen its position in the entire value chain of diagnosis and stresses the pivotal role of clinical trial services.
• It offers Viroclinics-DDL a broader range of capabilities in its specialty services, and a unique entry into new markets in North America, Asia, and Africa.

Issy Les Moulineaux, France and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 16 December 2021 - Cerba HealthCare, a leading global player in medical diagnosis, today announced it has reached agreement to acquire Viroclinics-DDL, a fast-growing global virology and immunology contract research organization (CRO) from Summit Partners.

Viroclinics-DDL, employing a total of over 390 scientists and experts, offers a broad range of virology related services in the field of non-clinical and clinical trials, clinical diagnostics, assay development and clinical trial logistics enabling the development of antiviral drugs, vaccines, and other therapies. The acquisition fits perfectly into Cerba HealthCare's strategy aimed at further strengthening its position in the entire diagnostic and clinical trial laboratory services value chain, while providing the most relevant services to patients, the medical community and healthcare industry players. Within the Cerba Research division, Viroclinics-DDL will be able to further broaden its services and access new markets in North America, Asia, and Africa.

Based in the Netherlands, Viroclinics-DDL brings the best scientific expertise in virology, with core competencies across the entire drug development process, from the preclinical phase to market approval, with unique virology assay capabilities and unparalleled experience working with highly pathogenic viruses. With its global network of 38 processing labs, Viroclinics-DDL is able to support large multinational clinical trials. Its strong logistics infrastructure is critical for the swift and safe transport of fragile virology and PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell) samples from the patient to the lab. 

Alongside its historical activities in routine and specialty clinical pathology with sound positions in Europe and Africa, Cerba HealthCare also has a worldwide presence through its expertise in clinical pathology for clinical trials, showcasing the Group’s geographic and expertise diversifi-cation to sustain its integrated vision for diagnosis.

Within Cerba HealthCare’s comprehensive Group offering, and ranking under the Cerba Re-search brand, clinical laboratory and diagnostic solutions for clinical trials have grown consid-erably over the past years, demonstrating a strong track record in patient recruitment and clini-cal trial sample testing, as well as in logistics solutions for immuno-oncology, anti-infectives and metabolic disorders. Over the years, Cerba Research has evolved to be the precision medi-cine partner to CROs, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and non-profit organiza-tions with growing needs for complex clinical research programs.

Cerba Research CEO Mario Papillon said: “The acquisition of Viroclinics-DDL is a milestone for Cerba Research, as it enables us to build a comprehensive offering for our customers, with broader capabilities, best-in-class logistics, and key specific expertise that meet the healthcare industry needs. With our combined expertise in immuno-oncology and infectious / respiratory diseases, we are poised to accelerate therapy and vaccine development for biopharma custom-ers while becoming the reference lab for cell and gene therapies of tomorrow. We are very much looking forward to onboarding the team of Viroclinics-DDL and together paving the way for new therapies.”

Viroclinics-DDL CEO Davide Molho added: “With Cerba Research, we have a new foundation for further global expansion to North America, Asia, and Africa with unrivalled expertise, capacity and capabilities. Together, we will be able to offer integrated solutions to the life science indus-try, accelerating antiviral, vaccine, and other R&D programs, while offering unmatched logistics solutions securing the integrity of fragile samples. Our 390+ scientists and experts look forward to joining Cerba Research in our continuous quest to provide the best possible science and ser-vice to our customers.” 

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions, such as comple-tion of the consultation procedure with Central Works Council of Viroclinics-DDL. The acquisi-tion is expected to close by end of Q1 2022.