Kidney dialysis mainstay DaVita HealthCare is working to boost the profile of its in-house CRO, recruiting a few experts to expand its early-phase capabilities.
DaVita Clinical Research has partnered up with Pacific Pharma Group in a deal covering consulting, strategy and protocol design for clinical pharmacology studies, the companies said. Through the agreement, Pacific Pharma principal Jon Ruckle will work with DaVita to help flesh out its Phase I unit, bringing years of experience with Covance ($CVD) and other research outfits, spanning more than 350 studies.
With Ruckle and Pacific Pharma on board, DaVita Clinical Research can expand its presence in the market for early-stage drug and medical device trials, vice president of early clinical research Chad Jaeger said, part of a plan to diversify the company's revenue streams.
"Our intense focus on patient safety and scientific integrity in complex clinical pharmacology services aligns well with this collaboration and the needs of our customers," Jaeger said in a statement.
Since its foundation in 1985, DaVita Clinical Research has grown from a single pharmacology site to a sizable specialty CRO. Through expansion and acquisition, the outfit became full-service in 2012, and DaVita's CRO focuses on kidney diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular studies.
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