The European contract research organization Optimapharm has expanded its operations to the U.S., opening a new office in New York City and appointing a VP for business development in the Americas.
Following its acquisition of the Czech CRO MKS Research in January, Optimapharm now counts 12 offices governing activities in 18 European countries, including a newly added office in Budapest, Hungary.
Through acquisitions like MKS, Optimapharm aims to consolidate and become the largest full-service CRO in Central and Eastern Europe, a market that includes over 300 million people, with the goal of doubling its revenue over the next three years.
“We have already realized a number of projects in the U.S.; however, by opening our office and strengthening our team, we wish to significantly strengthen our business development activities in the world’s biggest CRO market, to provide U.S. clients with the advantages of conducting trials in Europe,” said Optimapharm CEO Gordana Gregurić Čičak.
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The CRO named Charles Denis Maher as its Americas business development VP, as well as Roy Ovel as chief commercial officer.
Maher joins Optimapharm from the global CRO Sundia Meditech Company NY, headquartered in Shanghai, where he worked as executive director of U.S. business development. He previously served as executive VP of global business development for Azopharma Contract Pharmaceutical Services.
Ovel held senior leadership positions at ICON and Worldwide Clinical Trials before serving as chief business development officer and executive VP of global business development at TFS International.
Founded in Zagreb, Croatia, Optimapharm cites estimates that the U.S. contract research market is currently worth $20 billion, and is expected to grow in the coming years driven by increases in clinical projects, especially in oncology.