Great Point Partners announced that VitaLink Research, a GPP II portfolio company, has acquired Greenville, SC-based Upstate Pharmaceutical Research. UPR focuses on providing Phase II – IV clinical trials with a respiratory therapeutic focus. The addition of UPR will enable VitaLink Research to provide high-quality clinical research to a greater number of subjects throughout the Carolinas.
“The acquisition of Upstate Pharmaceutical Research enables VitaLink to further establish itself as the leading wholly-owned clinical research site company in the Carolinas,” said Steve Clemons, Co-Founder of VitaLink Research. “The addition of UPR enables us to partner with the fantastic team that Dr. Krishna Pudi mentored throughout his career. Dr. Pudi has a record of exceptional subject recruitment and retention while adhering to highest quality standards.”
“This transaction is a clear demonstration of VitaLink’s ability to execute on its strategic plan of acquisitive growth,” said Stephen Weaver, Senior Vice President at Great Point Partners. “VitaLink will continue to acquire and partner with clinical research sites throughout the United States to become the leading independent clinical research site business.”
About Great Point Partners
Great Point Partners, founded in 2003 and based in Greenwich, CT, is a leading health care investment firm with approximately $1 billion of equity capital under management and 28 professionals, investing in the United States, Canada and Western Europe. GPP is currently making new private equity investments from GPP II, a $215 million fund. Great Point Partners manages capital in private (GPP I, $156 million and GPP II, $215 million) and public (BioMedical Value Fund, approximately $600 million) equity funds. Great Point Partners has provided growth equity, growth recapitalization and management buyout financing to more than 100 growing health care companies. The private equity funds invest across all sectors of the health care industry with particular emphasis on biopharmaceutical services and supplies, services, outsourcing, pharmaceutical infrastructure and information technology enabled businesses. The firm pursues a proactive and proprietary approach to sourcing investments and tuck-in acquisitions for its portfolio companies. For further information, please contact Great Point Partners at 203-971-3300 or www.gppfunds.com.
About VitaLink Research
VitaLink Research was founded in 2004 and has since become a leading dedicated clinical research site business with 11 locations in the Southeastern U.S. Headquartered in Greenville, SC, VLR’s model is an effective method of research operations and management that consistently exceeds sponsor and FDA expectations during all quality audits while consistently ranking in the top 10% in global enrollment. The clustering of sites provides the opportunity for inter-site cross training, idea exchange, and standardization of operating procedures. With over ten years of shared experiences the company has developed best practices which continue to be the foundations of its successful U.S. operations. Learn more at www.vitalinkresearch.com.
