WRAL Tech Wire

PPD unveils new clinical trial software

 PPD adds three drug development executives

 PPD lands top technology honor in life science awards

PPD's 3D technology for global training in clinical trials receives the Best Technological Development in Clinical Trials honor from Scrip, an international life science media and technology firm.

 Oxygen Biotherapeutics picks PPD to run clinical trial

Oxygen Biotherapeutics picks PPD as the contract research organization to run a Phase 2 clinical trial on a proposed treatment for traumatic brain injury.

 $9M in new funding positions Clinipace for more deals

Clinical research organization Clinipace's fundraising haul today of $9 million puts it in a position to do more of what the Morrisville company has been doing in over the last two years - finding and acquiring companies.

Clinipace's website touts its growing reach, expertise

 SAS customer win; PPD allergy deal; new ATTUS service; DARA license deal; Chemring $49M contract

Inside the Bulldog Blog: SAS wins XL Group as Visual Analytics customer; PPD to work with Europeans on allergies; ATTUS expands compliance services; DARA licenses topical gel; Chemring wins big defense contract.

 Quintiles ranks No. 6 in InformationWeek '500'

Lowe's, PPD, SAS, Bank of America and Martin Marietta also crack the top 200 in the annual ranking of information technology trend-setters as selected by InformationWeek magazine.

IW 500

 Report: Suit in PPD acquisition is settled

 PPD hires Pfizer executive as its new CEO

David Simmons will take over as the leader of the Wilmington-based life science services company on June 4. PPD has been without a CEO since December.

 Raleigh-based INC Research tops life science service firm survey

The study by Cary-based Industry Standard Research is possibly the most comprehensive measure of what pharmaceutical companies think about contract research organizations.

 Drug partnerships: Not all positive, not all negative

Pozen CEO says there are lessons to be learned from its past partnership deals as the Chapel Hill firm seeks another one.

Pozen CEO John Plachetka

 Life science service sector to rebound, report says

"We expect growth in the CRO industry to continue accelerating into 2012 and the rise of the strategic partnership model should concentrate these benefits in the hands of a select group of narrow-moat providers," says a Morningstar analyst.

 What's on shopping list for CROs in the new year?

Partners, M&A possibilities, sites in Asia, private equity investments and more consulting expertise are appealing items on the want lists for contract research organizations.

 PPD CEO steps down; founder Eshelman remains a senior advisor

PPD CEO Ray Hill has stepped down from the clinical research organization a week after PPD's acquisition by The Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman was finalized. He departs with a $3 million severance package for running the company since September.

 Private equity firms close on $3.9B PPD deal

The private equity firms announced the completion of the all-cash deal for the clinical research organization Monday. The close follows an approval vote from shareholders last week.

 PPD deal includes $21M in 'golden parachutes' for top execs

Even as shareholders approve the $3.9 billion sale of the contract research organization to private equity groups, the future role of PPD management remains unclear.

Fred Eshelman

 PPD shareholders vote decisively to approve $3.9B sale

The Wilmington-based contract research organization is set to be taken over by The Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman.

 It's decision day for PPD shareholders on $3.9B sale

The Wilmington-based contract research organization has scheduled a meeting for shareholders to vote whether to approve the sale to private equity firms The Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman. Online and telephone voting closed Tuesday night.

 Life science awards go to PPD, Novartis, Steve Burrill

Scrips, an international life science media and related services firm based in the U.K., honors PPD with two awards, Novartis with three, and names Burrill its lifetime achievement winner.

 'Go shop' is over for PPD; $3.9B deal goes to shareholders

The life sciences services firm says it failed to find any "alternative acquisition" offers during a 30-day period in which it sought a better deal than the one made with Carlyle Group.