Ockham, a life science contract research organization based in Cary, has been acquired by London-based Chiltern, which also is a CRO.
The deal was announced Tuesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Chiltern already operates an office in Wilmington, N.C.
As part of the merger, Chiltern’s chief executive officer, Jim Esinhart, will lead the combined company.
James Baker, CEO at Ockham, is now the chief development officer of the combined company.
Focus of the firm, which now has well over 2,000 employees, will be oncology, biopharmaceuticals and as a provider of resourcing solutions to meet a variety of clinical, regulatory, medical and biometric needs.
“This merger is a natural progression towards our strategic goal of becoming the premier specialized mid-tier CRO,” Esinhart said in a statement. “Throughout this process I have been extremely impressed by the skill and professionalism of Ockham’s employees, the quality services they deliver, and the vision of the leadership team. There is a perfect strategic fit between our companies and I’m excited to work with the entire Ockham team to ensure a seamless continuation in the delivery of high quality services to all of the combined company’s clients.”
Added Baker: “In Ockham’s continuing progression toward building the top niche oncology CRO, our joining with Chiltern has been an easy choice, allowing us to leverage Chiltern’s global reach and highly developed staffing business in Europe, both of which are complementary to Ockham’s deep oncology expertise and source business in the US. We are fortunate to have found the ideal partner with a complete understanding and commitment to the unique needs of our emerging biotech clientele.”
Chiltern operates in more than 40 countries.
