Dutch virology CRO Viroclinics Biosciences has been acquired by private equity firm Parcom Capital and plans to expand its service offerings in hepatitis, polio and RSV.
Founded in 2001 as a spinoff from the Viroscience Lab at the Erasmums Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the CRO provides services that span across the full preclinical and clinical phases, supported by its assay expertise for developing new antivirals and vaccine candidates.
A leader in the virology testing field, Viroclinics tests around 90% of all anti-influenza medications developed worldwide, according to the company. In addition, the company also participates in a global virus discovery program and epidemiological surveillance programs. Some of the virology research it has participated in include the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The company’s current focus is still on respiratory viruses, CEO Bob van Gemen said in a statement, but it already has a plan for expansion.
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“We would like to broaden our portfolio, especially in the area of other viral targets such as hepatitis, polio and RSV,” van Gemen said. “For instance, we are very closely involved in a project that is on the verge of eradicating the polio virus for good.”
Parcom, which manages more than €1 billion in investments in several industries, bought the majority share in Viroclinics previously acquired by Gilde Healthcare Service and is now in full control of the CRO. All 100 employees, including those who work at a samples processing facility opened in Boston at the start of 2013, will stay on after the M&A. Financial details were not shared.