Emmes is excited to share the significant progress being made in clinical studies.
We also give you a look inside some of our own news.
Emmes Acquires Essex Management
Company News
A Technology Catalyst Enabling Innovative Clinical Research, Essex Enriches and Complements Emmes’ Services
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced the acquisition of Essex Management. Essex offers bioinformatics and health information technology (HIT) consulting services to government, private sector and academic organizations.
This is the sixth acquisition Emmes has made in just over two years, reflecting its strategy to grow both organically and through the addition of complementary and new services for its clients.
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “Essex’s bioinformatics technology expertise, combined with our CRO services, will open doors to new opportunities with a wider set of government agencies and create innovative data strategies for our biopharma clients. Essex’s focus on breaking down barriers in clinical research with technology solutions is completely aligned with Emmes’ mission and values.
"The combination of our two organizations further cements Emmes’ reputation as a data-forward, full-service clinical research partner,” she continued. “Adding Essex’s technology skills and experience to our innovative data and advanced analytics solutions strengthens our ability to help clients address the global health challenges we face now and in the future.”
Like Emmes, Essex shares a successful track record with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Emmes has provided a range of statistical and data analysis support to NCI since 1978, and Essex has supported NCI since the company’s founding in 2009. Two of Essex’s most prestigious NCI contracts support the Clinical Trials Reporting Program, a comprehensive database of all cancer clinical trials, and the Clinical Reporting and Research Informatics Initiative. Essex will add more than 100 employees to Emmes’ 1,400, continuing to boost its stature as a major biosciences employer.
“Presenting our complementary service offerings will open new avenues of growth, not only within NCI but with other NIH agencies,” said Kevin Hurley, Essex’s chief executive officer. “Data is revolutionizing clinical trials in health care, and scientific advances such as genomics are generating an even greater need for data-driven research. Our HIT and bioinformatics depth and Emmes’ track record for long, successful partnerships with its public sector clients will make a potent combination.”
Dr. Paul VanVeldhuisen, president of Emmes Public Sector, noted, “We have been so impressed with the Essex team’s commitment to excellence and intellectual curiosity – values that are part of the fabric of the Emmes culture.
“Essex is a recognized leader in computational biology and informatics,” he added. “Its reputation as a technology catalyst for life science innovation will add great value to Emmes.”
About Essex
Essex, a biomedical informatics and health information technology-focused consultancy, was founded in 2009. Its staff includes experts with extensive experience in developing and managing complex health and biomedical information programs for clients in the federal government, research academia, and private sector. Essex’s goal is to optimize its clients’ investment in IT and informatics to achieve better results for patients and clinicians.
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Emmes Opens New Office in Wilmington, North Carolina
Company News
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced the opening of a new office in Wilmington, North Carolina.
According to Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan, “Wilmington is a center for clinical research innovation, and creating this new office will encourage even more collaboration and idea-sharing among our employees in the area. We are thrilled to expand our presence in a community viewed as an incubator for the CRO industry.”
Rhonda Henry, president of Emmes BioPharma and long-time Wilmington resident, added, “My roots are deep here, and that makes me even more excited about this expansion. The new base in Wilmington will allow us to draw from the deep clinical research talent pool in the area, which includes seasoned professionals as well as new graduates from UNC Wilmington’s undergraduate and graduate clinical research programs.”
She continued, “With our focus on collaboration, flexibility and innovation, Emmes is a different kind of CRO. Our continued growth offers opportunities for others to join us and see their careers flourish.”
Emmes is hosting a ribbon-cutting event on February 22 to officially launch the collaboration hub. Company executives and Wilmington area employees will host a number of local government officials and civic leaders at the event, including members of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
Natalie English, president and chief executive officer of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, said, “We welcome the Emmes team to Wilmington and look forward to supporting their continued growth. Emmes will be a wonderful addition to the strong bioscience and pharmaceutical presence in our region. Its entrepreneurial, innovative culture is a perfect fit.”
According to Wendy Buckland, chief operating officer and the newest member of the Emmes executive team, “We’ve extended our view of innovation to the workspace itself,” she added, “calling it a collaboration hub instead of a typical office. It is modern, open and informal – a collegial gathering place versus a traditional office where employees are required to come in daily.”
Emmes now has about a dozen employees in the greater Wilmington area and expects the number to grow as recruiting efforts continue.
The company’s acquisition of five companies since December 2020 has expanded its reach from the U.S., Canada and India to countries throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. With the Wilmington hub, Emmes now has 19 offices in strategic locations throughout the world.
Dr. Dingivan noted, “Our employees began working remotely at the onset of the pandemic, and we continue to offer a flexible approach. Employees have the option to work from home, office or a combination. Although we have opportunities for in-person meetings and events, we don’t mandate that employees come to the office a certain number of days a week.
“We celebrated our 45th anniversary last year,” she continued, “and we believe our emphasis on collaboration – among employees and with our clients – will ensure many more years of progress.”
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Matt Honan Joins Emmes as Vice President and Head of Corporate Development
Leadership News
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Expertise Adds Value to Emmes’ Growth Plans
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that Matt Honan has joined the company as vice president and global head of corporate development.
In this newly created position, Honan will lead the company in identifying and executing acquisitions that complement Emmes’ existing strong federal government client base, expand its biopharma portfolio, enhance its technology offerings, and broaden its global reach.
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “The financial backing and support of our new owner, New Mountain Capital, and the addition of Matt to our leadership team are a potent combination as we accelerate our diversification efforts and make an even greater impact on global health.”
According to Honan, “My goal is to build a best-in-class corporate development function at Emmes to meet and even exceed our strategic growth objectives. The opportunity to create this new function at Emmes, and in an area of health care I am very passionate about, is what brought me here. I was also extremely impressed with the caliber and dedication of the entire Emmes team, who will play an integral role in our future M&A work.”
Honan served most recently as senior director, M&A and business development, at Quest Diagnostics. There, he led cross-functional teams through the entire M&A lifecycle, executing more than 20 transactions valued at more than $1 billion. Prior to assuming that role, he held various M&A and finance positions of increasing responsibility.
As a Presidential Scholar, Matt graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and began his career as an engineer at Stähli USA, Inc. He then attended Rutgers University and obtained his MBA in finance before starting at Quest.
Dr. Dingivan noted, “Emmes has made great progress in growing organically and in making acquisitions that aligned with our strategic priorities and strengthened our therapeutic capabilities in such areas as ophthalmology and rare disease research.
“The process and rigor that Matt brought to Quest in its M&A process will be especially valuable as we build out our function,” she added. “His due diligence and transaction experience will be immediately transferable as we continue to evaluate companies that will expand our depth and reach and reflect our commitment to dedicated, innovative services to our clients.”
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Wendy Buckland to Join Emmes as Chief Operating Officer
Leadership News
New COO Adds International Experience and Clinical Operations Depth to Emmes’ Portfolio
Rockville, MD, December 15, 2022 – Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that Wendy Buckland will join the company as its chief operating officer, leading global operations.
Prior to her new position at Emmes, Buckland headed PPD’s neuroscience therapeutic unit where she was responsible for strategy, client satisfaction, operational delivery, profitability and talent development, as well as oversight for all clinical development programs in neuroscience and ophthalmology.
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “Wendy has an outstanding reputation with an impressive track record for building high-performing teams and leading client accounts. Her depth in clinical operations in many different parts of the world will add immediate value to our leadership and operations team.”
Before being named head of the neuroscience business unit in 2014, Buckland held four different vice president roles at PPD over a period of nearly seven years: clinical development, Latin America; governance, risk and compliance; global quality and compliance; and strategic partnerships. Her prior clinical operations posts included senior positions overseeing Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia, followed by responsibility for emerging regions in Latin America and Asia.
Dr. Dingivan added, “The range of positions Wendy has held will have a direct, positive impact on Emmes as we expand globally and add more biopharma research work. Her involvement in neurology, ophthalmology, rare disease, and cell and gene therapy is important too, as we continue to expand our presence in these important therapeutic areas.”
Buckland began her career at PPD in 1998 as clinical operations manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Previously, she spent eight years at Novartis in South Africa. Buckland holds a pharmacy bachelor’s degree from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, and a diploma in business management from the Damelin Management School.
Buckland said, “I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to join the leadership team for this new chapter at Emmes. I am inspired by its strong commitment to public health and impressive track record of customer loyalty. I look forward to deploying my varied experience in operations, finance, quality, and customer engagement to help Emmes grow and expand our business in new areas, while continuing to innovate in service for our customers.”
Buckland will join Emmes in early 2023 after she concludes other commitments.
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Emmes Hires Ching Tian in New Leadership Role to Accelerate Innovation
Leadership News
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that Ching Tian has joined the company as chief innovation officer.
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “Ching brings a wealth of data and digital experience, which will be immediately useful as we accelerate our transition to decentralized trials. Her role is to work across the company to integrate technology and processes that strengthen the way we’ll address clinical trials of the future.”
Tian said, “As a biostatistician by training, I have spent many years leading functional operations and optimizing the clinical trial processes through technology with a data focus. What attracted me to Emmes were Dr. Dingivan’s vision of Emmes as a tech-enabled CRO, the company’s roots in biostatistics, its 45-year history and science-based, high-quality clinical research reputation.
“I’m very proud to have contributed to the industry’s Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) and digital evolution over the past five years,” she noted. “The speed of adoption has been unprecedented. The solutions are still a work in process, however, especially in areas of reducing overall complexity and user experience.
“That is why this is such an exciting time for the industry and for Emmes. Our data expertise and rich experience from design to submission, plus our mid-size position in the market, will be a fertile ground for rapid innovation and scaling. I’m very impressed with what the Emmes team has accomplished, and I’m excited to help lead the next phase of innovation,” Tian added.
Before joining Emmes, Tian was senior vice president of strategy and solutions at Medable, where she created and was responsible for its DCT product strategy. Her previous role at Novartis, where she was general manager, data & digital, in global drug development, also included accountability for driving the DCT strategy, programs and platforms.
In addition, Tian’s CRO and pharma experience included leadership positions at PPD and MedImmune/AstraZeneca, where she held roles of increasing responsibility in areas such as global pharmacovigilance systems, early clinical development services, global clinical informatics, data management, statistical programming, and clinical technology operations.
Tian holds a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Hangzhou Dianzi University in China.
“Ching knows this industry and what our clients want and need from a CRO,” noted Dr. Dingivan. “Her experience at Medable, where she worked to ensure that technology was not built in a vacuum but integrated with the business, will be valuable in her new position at Emmes. Her experience across technology, CRO and biopharma companies is a unique asset for leading our Advantage eClinical platform development and commercialization activities.”
She added, “Ching is a visionary leader with unmatched drive for innovation, which makes her a perfect fit for Emmes as we continue our accelerated global growth strategy.”
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Emmes Launches Cell and Gene Therapy Center
Company News
Decades of Experience and Emerging Opportunities Led to its Creation.
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced the creation of a dedicated center to enhance Emmes’ legacy and depth in cell and gene therapy research.
The new center will focus on supporting the clinical trials of our clients who are developing cell and gene therapies around the world and across multiple therapeutic areas, including hematology, oncology, cardiology and ophthalmology, as well as rare diseases. The center will combine a team of 100 researchers to capitalize on the company’s 35 years of cell and gene therapy experience.
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “Our reputation and the growth opportunities in cell and gene therapy research drove the decision to establish the center. We have supported more than 125 clinical trials that integrate cell or gene therapies and have a long record of successful collaboration with leading investigators in this field. This new center centralizes our resources and facilitates expansion in our current strengths to other high-potential areas where we’re building expertise.”
The Cell and Gene Therapy Center follows the successful launch of Emmes’ Rare Disease Center last year. Adam Mendizabal, Ph.D., an Emmes vice president, has been named the scientific leader of the Cell and Gene Therapy Center.
Mendizabal said, “Innovations in cell and gene therapies are accelerating the opportunity to tackle increasingly complex research questions. Ultimately, what this means is greater potential to test and create life-changing treatments for patients suffering from a wide range of conditions and diseases. The successful partnerships we’ve built with leading cell and gene therapy experts have resulted in more than 100 scientific manuscripts co-authored by Emmes researchers and centered on research results and progress. “
He added, “One of our areas of strength and proficiency is in the use of cellular therapies for blood disorders. Emmes is proud to have been at the forefront of this research for more than 30 years. During this period, our cell and gene therapy research portfolio has evolved in parallel with scientific advances.”
Mendizabal explained that Emmes has partnered with the National Institutes of Health and with biopharma companies to evaluate promising therapeutic approaches in multi-institutional clinical trials to improve the outcomes of blood and marrow transplantation and other cellular therapies for patients facing life-threatening blood disorders. Through these relationships, Emmes has contributed to practice-changing clinical trials and is known as a preeminent CRO in these therapeutic areas.
He concluded, “Emmes’ Cell and Gene Therapy Center will harmonize our diverse credentials across multiple therapeutic areas and functions under one roof, allowing our best practices and expertise to be leveraged even more efficiently in this complex environment of evolving therapies.”
The center will offer Emmes’ full complement of research services, with particular expertise in clinical trial operations, study leadership, statistical services, data management, and pharmacovigilance. Regulatory, training and educational support will continue to expand.
About Emmes
Founded more than 45 years ago, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
Emmes rapidly expands in India – driven by deep vaccines and infectious diseases expertise and enhanced study startup capabilities
Company News
Global CRO’s India office reports surging growth from Western, regional and local trial customers
Emmes – a global, full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation – announces it has rapidly expanded its capabilities in India during the last two years. Emmes’ India operations are headquartered in Bengaluru with an additional office in Ahmedabad. The company’s operations in India have seen surging growth with local revenue increasing by 400% and global study revenue increasing by more than 50% .
The CRO forecasts its Indian operations will grow further over the next year, with employee numbers quickly surpassing 200. 60%+ growth has been achieved over the past year with continued high growth planned over the next three years.
Emmes’ presence in India spans some 15 years, and its local team was originally focused on supporting global studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other academic and research institutes across a broad therapeutic spectrum. However, since 2018, the regional team has expanded quickly, with many more domestic clients, and it now supports full-service clinical trials in Asia and Africa.
Expertise in vaccines and infectious diseases are particular strengths. Emmes has an especially strong pedigree in vaccines and has completed several trials in India, Bangladesh and Africa – including for tuberculosis, shigellosis, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), polio, human papillomavirus (HPV), yellow Fever, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, COVID-19 and typhoid.
The acquisition of Orphan Reach last year – and its India based capabilities – has further empowered the Emmes team in India by increasing the depth, knowledge and experience of rare disease trials in the country.
In addition, the team has strengthened end-to-end services, including monitoring, data management, biostatistics, safety and study startup, with a particular focus on capabilities to get studies up and running quickly and effectively. These enhancements also are providing increased career opportunities for the workforce in India.
“Our teams have worked on a number of global clinical trials in close collaboration with the wider organization and, of course, on several COVID-19 trials. The team’s commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, innovation and the drive to make a public health impact is what sets us apart from other CROs in India working on international projects. However, what is perhaps less known is that we have also seen significant growth from innovators in India and have led numerous clinical trials here,”
commented Archana Sarda, Managing Director, Emmes India.
Exponential growth in the size of the local team and services offered has resulted in enhanced ability to support large Phase III and IV studies. And, in fact, the team in India is currently leading five Phase III trials for global clients.
“The ultimate goal for Emmes is not to be the biggest CRO in India, but rather the most scientifically driven, offering a greater depth of clinical and regulatory insight,” added Ms. Sarda.
Looking ahead to 2023, with its lineage in comparable research and the access to patients locally, the Emmes team in India has identified indigenously developed vaccine trials as a strong growth area, as well as a broad spectrum of trials from international sponsors.
About Emmes
Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service clinical research organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Alex Heeley or Nidhi Narain
De Facto Communications
T: +44 (0) 203 735 8165
E: a.heeley@defacto.co.uk / n.narain@defacto.co.uk
Emmes Leader Speaks on the Evolving Role of Patient Advocacy in Clinical Research
Company News
Christine McSherry is a Presenter at a Major Clinical Trials Conference
Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, announced that Christine McSherry is speaking at today’s Outsourcing in Clinical Trials conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Her presentation, titled “The Importance of Patient Advocacy Through a CRO,” addresses best practices for thoughtful, engaged patient recruitment, as well as ways to provide efficiencies and better compliance within clinical studies.
McSherry has both a corporate and a personal connection to the importance of integrating the patient’s perspective into clinical research. Her son, Jett, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), was the impetus for her decision to create the Jett Foundation in 2001 to support people and families affected by DMD through programming, educational opportunities and ongoing support. In 2016, she left the Jeff Foundation to co-found Casimir and serve as its chief executive. Casimir was acquired by Emmes in March 2022.
“My experiences and frustrations with DMD clinical trials led me to co-found Casimir with Mindy Leffler, whose son also suffers from the disease,” said McSherry. “We believe that a one-size-fitsall clinical trials approach isn’t appropriate for certain diseases, like muscular dystrophy. Our goal was to demonstrate that less intrusive options could produce more reliable outcomes and better treatment. Virtual trials and home-based assessments eliminate the need for patients and their families to travel to trial sites and minimize disruption to their regular routines.”
Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “Christine McSherry has become a champion and key contributor to the evolution of patient advocacy in research. Casimir’s reputation as an innovator in rare disease clinical trials was a key factor in our desire to join forces earlier this year.
“She is known for her expertise in and passion for championing the needs of patients,” continued Dr. Dingivan. “We believe that patient engagement will continue to play a major role in clinical trials for rare and orphan diseases and will have growing applicability across the range of therapeutic areas we support.”
McSherry noted, “Every decision we make is grounded in an understanding of and respect for the role patient communities play in informing and participating in clinical research. Enlightened CROs are prioritizing patient-centricity and empathy, driving even greater research connections between sponsors, patients and their families.”
McSherry’s outreach before the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials conference included:
- Hosting a panel discussion on patient centricity at the World Orphan Drug Conference on
July 12, 2022. - Contributing to an article titled, “Patient Voice Elevates Rare Disease Trials,” published in
Outsourcing Pharma on July 28, 2022. - Joining an Applied Clinical Trials podcast titled “Pioneers in Patient Data Capture,” with
colleague Mindy Leffler on September 6, 2022.
Casimir has continued to be recognized for its DMD research innovations:
- Muscle & Nerve featured Casimir’s Duchenne Video Assessment (DVA), a home-based clinical outcome assessment that measures movement patterns, ease of movement, and progression as an indicator for DMD studies and treatment interventions.
- Capricor Therapeutics used the DVA as a secondary endpoint, for the first time ever, in the HOPE-3 clinical trial.
- PLOS One highlighted Casimir’s recently developed DVA Scorecards, used by DVA-trained physical therapists to score the videos.
- The NIH-sponsored Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee Meeting included Leffler as a featured speaker on Casimir’s novel outcome measure development.
“The Duchenne Video Assessment tool is a perfect example of integrating the patient voice into
rare disease research,” said McSherry. “Patient advocacy can shape the development of clinical
trials and yield real quality-of-life benefits.”
About Emmes
Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to
excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation.
The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government
and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout
the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health,
go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
New Mountain Capital Announces Growth Partnership with Emmes
Company News
Partnership to Support Emmes’ Next Phase of Tech-Enabled Growth
New Mountain Capital, a leading growth-oriented investment firm with more than $37 billion in assets under management and Emmes, a global, tech-enabled full-service clinical research organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that they have formed a partnership to support and accelerate Emmes’ next phase of growth. Affiliates of New Mountain will acquire the ownership interest of Behrman Capital, the majority investor in Emmes since March 2019, and the ownership interests of Emmes’ other investors. The transaction is expected to close in early July and terms were not disclosed.
Emmes is a leading CRO that provides its clients with expertise in biostatistics, technologies and dedicated service required to manage clinical research studies with the highest standards of quality. The company sits at the intersection of the public and private healthcare sectors with clients including biopharmaceutical companies, government agencies, foundations, academic institutions and other non-profit organizations. Emmes is proud to support the research efforts of agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Emmes’ five acquisitions since December 2020 have complemented the company’s core operations in the greater Washington, D.C. area, Canada and India, while expanding its international presence throughout Europe.
“We are excited to partner with the New Mountain team in this next phase of growth,” said Dr. Christine Dingivan, President and CEO of Emmes. “Over the past several years, our executive team has worked diligently to expand our commercial and global presence. We are confident that New Mountain’s growth-oriented investment approach will allow us to continue on this trajectory. In addition, New Mountain’s expertise in the biopharma services and technology sector space will allow us to tap into their understanding of this market as we promote the cloud-version of our Advantage eClinical electronic data capture (EDC) software and further develop ClinDoc, the EDC solution acquired with Institut Dr. Schauerte.”
“Emmes is a world-class clinical research organization with a talented team, advancing life-saving therapeutics through leading clinical, data and technological capabilities,” said Kyle Peterson, Managing Director at New Mountain Capital. “Our firm’s experience in the biopharma sector enables us to support the Emmes team in expanding and scaling the company in this next stage of growth.”
“Emmes’ reputation and work with both the private and public sectors, particularly the National Institutes of Health, is a highly attractive and exciting opportunity. The company is also a great fit with New Mountain’s focus on building great businesses,” added Matt Dubbioso, Director at New Mountain Capital.
“Emmes is an outstanding business run by a highly talented team,” said Grant Behrman, Managing Partner at Behrman Capital. “Its work to advance public health and biopharmaceutical innovation through cutting-edge clinical research will help change the world. We are grateful for our partnership and are confident that New Mountain will allow Emmes to continue to thrive.”
Rothschild & Co and Baird served as financial advisors to Emmes on the transaction and Goodwin Procter served as its legal advisor. Ropes & Gray served as legal advisor to New Mountain on the transaction.
About Emmes
Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service CRO dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
About New Mountain Capital
New Mountain Capital is a New York-based investment firm that emphasizes business building and growth, rather than debt, as it pursues long-term capital appreciation. The firm currently manages private equity, credit, net lease real estate and public equity funds with over $37 billion in assets under management. New Mountain seeks out what it believes to be the highest quality growth leaders in carefully selected industry sectors and then works intensively with management to build the value of these companies.
Additional information about New Mountain Capital is available at www.newmountaincapital.com.
About Behrman Capital
Based in New York City, Behrman Capital was founded in 1991 by Grant G. and Darryl G. Behrman. The firm invests in management buyouts, leveraged buildups and recapitalizations of established growth businesses. The company's investments are focused in three industries: defense and aerospace, healthcare services, and specialty manufacturing and distribution. The firm has raised $4.0 billion since inception and is currently investing out of its sixth fund.
For more information, please visit www.behrmancap.com.
Contacts
For Emmes
Karen Vahouny
703-624-2674
kvahouny@gmail.com
For New Mountain Capital
Dana Gorman / Matthew Butler
Abernathy MacGregor
212-371-5999
dtg@abmac.com / msb@abmac.com
For Behrman Capital
Ross Lovern / Teagan Chapman
Kekst CNC
ross.lovern@kekstcnc.com / teagan.chapman@kekstcnc.com
Emmes Supports Groundbreaking Anal Cancer Study Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute
Company News
Treatment of Precursor Lesions Was Found to Significantly Reduce the Risk of Progression to Anal Cancer, with Study Results Highlighted in the New England Journal of Medicine
Rockville, MD – June 16, 2022 – Emmes, a global, full-service clinical research organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that a team of its researchers contributed to a successful AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) study. Results of the study, which demonstrated that treating and removing anal cancer precursor lesions reduced the cancer risk for HIV-infected men and women, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Phase 3 trial results included 4,446 participants at 21 clinical sites across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The study enrolled people living with HIV aged 35 years and older who had at least one precursor lesion for anal cancer, called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Participants were randomized into two groups: those who received treatment for the lesion(s) and those who were actively monitored but did not receive treatment. Participants were re-evaluated every three to six months. Rates of progression to anal cancer were compared between the two groups. The findings showed that treating HSIL resulted in a nearly 60 percent reduction in anal cancer progression among people living with HIV.
Emmes’ role was to coordinate the research, which included protocol development, electronic data capture, site monitoring, and regulatory compliance, along with general study management for the research team.
The National Cancer Institute’s Office of HIV and AIDS Malignancy sponsored the current study through the AMC, which was led by Joel Palefsky, MD, of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
Don Vena, vice president and head of Emmes’ oncology therapeutic research unit, said, “Dr. Palefsky facilitated collaboration among varied stakeholders – government, industry, labs, clinical sites and our team – to build the research infrastructure needed to run a landmark trial in the developing field of anal cancer prevention. Emmes is proud to have been a contributor and proud of our 18-year relationship with the AMC.”
Dr. Palefsky, who created the world’s first clinic devoted to anal cancer prevention at USCF in 1991, reported that the data from the ANal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) study show for the first time that anal cancer can be prevented in high-risk populations, such as people living with HIV. He shared that the results are likely relevant for other groups at high risk of anal cancer, such as people who are immunosuppressed for reasons other than HIV, and women with a history of cervical or vulvar cancer, even though the study focused exclusively on those with HIV.
He presented the study highlights on February 15 at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, a highly regarded event for HIV/AIDS research that attracts infectious disease scientists and professionals from around the world. He noted that office-based electrocautery not only resulted in the reduction in anal cancer incidence but that the treatment was well-tolerated.
According to Dr. Palefsky, “Anal cancer is the fourth most common cancer among people living with HIV. Primary prevention of this disease can occur in the long-term, for those with little or no history of sexual activity, with the use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Unfortunately, many people have already been exposed to HPV, are over the age of vaccination, or do not have access to the vaccine. For these individuals, the ANCHOR study shows for the first time that secondary prevention of anal cancer is possible through treatment of anal HSIL. We expect that the results of the ANCHOR study will lead to adoption of screening and treatment of anal HSIL in people living with HIV as the standard of care.”
Dr. Palefsky added, “The Emmes team played a key role in the success of the study through its diligent oversight and implementation of the many components of such a complex trial.”
Dr. Christine Dingivan, Chief Executive Officer of Emmes, commented, “We are extremely pleased that the ANCHOR study showed that HSIL treatment is effective in reducing anal cancer risk, and it ultimately will have a profound effect on patients’ quality of life. This project reflects how client tenure and close collaboration can make a big difference in public health – for people with HIV or at highest risk of anal cancer and for others in the future.”
About the Research
This project has been funded with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute’s Office of HIV and AIDS Malignancy under Grant No. #UM1CA121947.
About Emmes
Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service CRO dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.
