Clinipace acquires Worldwide Clinical Research, changes its name to Clinipace Worldwide

Clinipace, a global technology-driven clinical research organization (CRO), announced today that on October 26^th, 2009 the company closed its acquisition of Worldwide Clinical Research, Inc. (WWCR), a Midwest-based CRO specializing in the management of clinical studies for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. With the acquisition, Clinipace has changed its name to Clinipace Worldwide.

Combined, the companies have managed over 70 contract research projects conducted globally at almost 3,000 sites with 100,000 patients. With specific expertise in oncology, among other therapeutic areas, the company will offer fully-integrated technology-based clinical research solutions and services to growth-oriented and mid-tier biopharmaceutical and medical device firms.

WWCR currently provides core clinical operations functionality including monitoring, site management, and project management. These services will now be augmented by Clinipace’s focus on technology-driven clinical research solutions to provide clients with full-service, global research services that result in greater trial visibility, more project control, and lower costs.

With the addition of more than 30 employees, the company headquarters will remain in Research Triangle Park, NC with additional domestic operations in Overland Park, KS, and South American operations based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Lima, Peru. Clinipace has experienced triple digit growth over the past 12 months and is expected to continue to hire in all locations throughout 2010 to support its growing CRO business.

“Having honed our expertise on electronic data management services, we felt it was critical to expand both our clinical operations expertise and global presence in order to support our growth,” said Jeff Williams, Clinipace CEO. “As one of the industry’s most trusted CROs, WWCR’s reliable service, global access to enrolling sites, and program-level therapeutic experience will be a natural complement to our existing research model and global expansion strategy.

Barbara Geiger, president and CEO of WWCR, will transition to Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations and will be responsible for directing all clinical operations for Clinipace Worldwide, Inc. from the Overland Park, KS office. Geiger brings over 25 years of experience in the conduct and management of Phase I-IV clinical trials and in the evaluation and selection of global clinical trial vendors. Prior to founding WWCR in 2000, she spent ten years at global CROs where she was Director of Project Management and Director of International Partners.

“By combining forces, we can better serve our clients with a fully-integrated end-to-end development solution and expert services,” said Barb Geiger, Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations. “The synergies between WWCR and Clinipace will provide our clients with a complete range of technology-driven services, ranging from clinical operations all the way through regulatory submission.”

“Vaccinogen selected Clinipace Worldwide for its upcoming global clinical trial due, in part, to the combined strength of both companies and experience managing phase 3 international oncology trials," said Michael G. Hanna, Jr., Ph.D., Founder, Chairman & CEO of Vaccinogen. “We are confident their therapeutic and operations experts, along with their technology platform, will enable us to centrally manage a very complex protocol with some very unique requirements.”