Chiltern, a global contract research organization (CRO) with U.S. headquarters in Wilmington, has acquired Integrated Development Associates Co. Ltd. (IDA), a Japanese CRO that specializes in integrating Japan and Asia into global drug development.
“The acquisition of IDA is driven by our commitment to establish a substantial presence in all major global markets and support our clients with clinical development capabilities worldwide,” Chiltern CEO Jim Esinhart, Ph.D., said in a news release. “Japan and Southeast Asia are among the world’s largest and fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets. IDA will enable us to grow in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region through well-established relationships and local expertise and knowledge.”
Chiltern, through its media counsel, Scorr Marketing, declined to disclose terms of the purchase, whether the acquisition would impact its North Carolina employment, and how many employees it has in the state.
With staff based in Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, IDA has expertise in establishing regulatory and development pathways for Japan and implementing Pan Asian clinical trials to satisfy both Japanese and global regulations.
IDA’s experience in a broad range of therapeutic areas and its local knowledge and relationships will allow Chiltern to offer optimal approaches for integrating Japan and Asia into global drug development, Chiltern said. The acquisition also opens opportunities for Japanese companies to enter a wider market by relying on Chiltern’s global expertise and connections.
IDA will do business as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiltern and be renamed IDA, a Chiltern Company. As a part of this agreement, IDA’s founder and CEO, John Winebarger, will continue to lead IDA. Winebarger has more than 30 years’ experience working in Japan and will join Chiltern’s leadership team.
IDA was established in 2004. It has offices in Osaka, Tokyo and Manila.
Chiltern provides clinical services in a variety of therapeutic areas for the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. It has more than 4,300 employees in 47 countries who provide comprehensive clinical development, medical and scientific affairs, data and analysis, pharmacovigilance and strategic regulatory services.
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