Emmes Revolutionizes Global Clinical Trials with its Latest VaxTRIALS Acquisition

In a significant move that underscores the evolving landscape of global clinical trials, Emmes, a leading Clinical Research Organization (CRO), has announced the acquisition of VaxTRIALS. This strategic collaboration aims to fortify the partnership’s position in the dynamic field of vaccine research and infectious diseases, extending their reach from North America, Europe, and Asia to the burgeoning Latin American region.

The Complexity of Modern Clinical Trials

Emmes Executive Chairman Sastry Chilukuri emphasized the increasing complexity and global nature of contemporary clinical trials. With this acquisition, the partnership seeks to leverage VaxTRIALS’ profound expertise in Latin America, coupled with Emmes’ strengths in technology, biostatistics, and data management. The synergy promises an unparalleled experience for clients engaging in clinical trials, combining regional depth with cutting-edge global capabilities.

VaxTRIAL’s Role in Latin America’s Clinical Landscape

Headquartered in Panama City, VaxTRIALS has over 160 dedicated staff members overseeing vaccine clinical trial activities across Latin America. This strategic location positions the partnership to tap into the region’s rapid growth in clinical trials, attributed to its diverse patient population and high-quality research sites.

VaxTRIALS’ noteworthy contributions extend across 11 Latin American countries and the Philippines. The organization’s vaccine-related clinical trials have tackled a spectrum of diseases, from influenza and dengue to COVID-19. The inclusion of diverse diseases such as meningitis, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus underscores the depth and breadth of VaxTRIALS’ impact in the realm of infectious disease prevention.

Strategic Gains for Emmes: Leveraging VaxTRIAL’s Network

Emmes Chief Executive Officer Peter Ronco elucidated the strategic advantages gained through this acquisition. The extension of their network to Latin America brings forth new biopharmaceutical and public-private partnership clients. Moreover, this move reinforces Emmes’ focus on vaccines and infectious diseases, augmenting its expertise in areas such as rare and pediatric diseases, cell and gene therapy, and ophthalmology.

Ronco highlighted the pivotal role VaxTRIALS’ established network in Latin America will play in reaching clinical trial participants. This extends beyond infectious diseases to encompass Emmes’ core therapeutic areas. The collaboration is poised to enhance patient recruitment efforts in rare and pediatric diseases, cell and gene therapy, and ophthalmology, solidifying the partnership’s commitment to diverse and impactful clinical research.

A Shared Legacy: People, Culture, and Public Health Impact

Both Emmes and VaxTRIALS boast enduring customer relationships and a legacy of service in vaccine and infectious disease research. VaxTRIALS CEO Dr. José Jimeno underscored the priority given to people and cultural development. His excitement resonated in incorporating Emmes’ technology expertise, biostatistical analysis, and data management depth into Latin American clinical trials, offering benefits such as improved data quality, streamlined trial operations oversight, and reduced timelines and costs.

Chilukuri expressed enthusiasm about welcoming Dr. José Jimeno and the VaxTRIALS team into Emmes, highlighting Jimeno’s unique blend of medical expertise, industry knowledge, and a stellar reputation in the global vaccine community. As a founder and active leader, Jimeno’s dynamic approach aligns seamlessly with Emmes’ commitment to advancing public health through innovative clinical research.

Emmes’ acquisition of VaxTRIALS undeniably marks a strategic leap into Latin America, presenting a transformative synergy that combines regional depth with global prowess in the intricate landscape of clinical trials. The partnership’s impact extends beyond infectious diseases, promising a ripple effect across diverse therapeutic areas and fostering a legacy of excellence in public health advancement.

About Emmes

Established in 1977, Emmes stands as a global, full-service clinical research organization (CRO) committed to advancing public health and fostering biopharmaceutical innovation. With a rich history marked by over 2000 clinical studies, Emmes has emerged as a formidable force in the research landscape, boasting expertise across diverse therapeutic areas, including infectious diseases, vaccines, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology, substance use disorders, and maternal and child health.

Operating at the nexus of the public and private healthcare sectors, Emmes uniquely positions itself to share insights and innovations gleaned from one client base with another. This cross-sector experience, coupled with a robust foundation in biostatistics, equips Emmes to offer comprehensive support, ranging from innovative study designs to regulatory strategies and global clinical trial execution capabilities.

The organization takes pride in its pivotal role in public health advancement, collaborating seamlessly with biopharmaceutical companies, government entities, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. Through insightful clinical studies, Emmes contributes significantly to impacting millions of patients globally. From collaborating with the National Institutes of Health on rare diseases, gene and cell therapies, epidemics, and pandemics to maintaining enduring relationships with biopharmaceutical companies and foundations, Emmes remains dedicated to making meaningful contributions.

Embedded in the ethos of Emmes is a set of values that drive its mission. True to its name, the organization places a profound emphasis on the quest for truth, which permeates every facet of its research and client relationships. With decades of experience, Emmes recognizes that collaborative relationships flourish and yield human benefits when truth serves as the guiding compass.

Emmes invites collaboration with a forward-looking approach, grounded in a legacy of impactful contributions to public health. The organization’s commitment to truth and collaborative excellence underscores its readiness to embark on new ventures, shaping the future of clinical research and healthcare innovation.

Learn more about Emmes from their Official Website.

About VaxTRIALS

VaxTRIALS, a distinguished boutique clinical research organization (CRO), stands at the forefront of advancing vaccine clinical trial activities throughout Latin America. Since its establishment in 2012, VaxTRIALS has consistently delivered innovative solutions, managing and monitoring trials with a commitment to the highest quality standards, surpassing client expectations.

With an active presence in over 10 Latin American countries, VaxTRIALS has established itself as a regional leader, leveraging a profound understanding of local regulatory nuances. This, coupled with an extensive network of experienced investigational sites, ensures swift enrollment and adherence to rigorous quality standards.

At the heart of VaxTRIALS’ operations lie four core values: Engagement, Respect, Integrity, and Innovation. These principles guide the organization’s approach to clinical research, fostering a culture of collaboration, ethical conduct, and continuous advancement.

VaxTRIALS’ track record speaks volumes, with involvement in more than 50 vaccine-related clinical, epidemiological, and health economics trials across the Latin American region. The organization has played a pivotal role in trials targeting diseases such as Chikungunya, COVID-19, Influenza, Dengue, Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Norovirus, Herpes Zoster, Pertussis, RSV, and Polio in diverse countries, including Panama, Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Chile.

Notably, VaxTRIALS has overseen the recruitment of over 38,000 subjects and conducted 320,000 study visits through its extensive network of highly skilled and trained investigators. The organization’s solutions optimize clinical vaccine trial timeframes by facilitating faster patient enrollment and promoting higher adherence to study protocols.

As a key player in Latin America, VaxTRIALS has forged enduring partnerships with local and regional/global collaborators. These partnerships span a spectrum of services, including IT solutions, pharmacovigilance, biostatistics, epidemiology, data management, translation services, medical writing, and the intricate logistics of import, export, handling, storage, and shipment of investigational products. This network underscores VaxTRIALS’ commitment to comprehensive support, ensuring seamless and successful execution of vaccine trials in the region.

Visit the VaxTRIALS Official Website to learn more.

Engr. Dex Marco Tiu Guibelondo, B.Sc. Pharm, R.Ph., B.Sc. CpE

Editor-in-Chief, PharmaFEATURES