CenExel acquires Florida research firm

CenExel Clinical Research, Inc., a Salt Lake City-based company that specializes in the medical and scientific support for the design and execution of clinical trials, has acquired Research Centers of America (RCA) in Hollywood, Florida. The acquisition brings to five the number of CenExel clinical research sites in the United States. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}

“We are thrilled to add Research Centers of America to the stellar network of CenExel sites,” said Tom Wardle, CenExel CEO. “This acquisition continues the aggressive momentum of CenExel as a leading full-service clinical research site network. RCA’S expertise in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and vaccine research extends our ability to offer the finest-quality clinical research, investigators, and staff to study sponsors to deliver their clinical research objectives. We are particularly enthusiastic about the stability and leadership that Dr. [Peter]Ventre and Dr. [Howard] Schwartz bring to RCA and their commitment to continued growth of RCA and CenExel over the next several years.”

RCA’s investigators and staff have conducted over 1,000 inpatient and outpatient clinical trials, ranging from pediatric to geriatric populations, with an emphasis on Phase I to Phase III mental health and CNS disorders, substance use disorders and sleep studies. RCA partners with the Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center for psychiatric inpatient and outpatient trials. RCA also specializes in vaccine development across a broad array of infectious and biodefense indications.

With the addition of RCA, CenExel now operates facilities in Florida, California, Georgia, Maryland and Utah.

“Joining the CenExel Centers of Excellence network is a significant and timely step for us,” said Ventre. “We see this as an avenue to increasing single- and multi-site studies for RCA, while allowing us to focus on our strength — changing patients’ lives through new pharmaceutical therapies.”

CenExel Clinical Research Inc. was formed in 2018 and employs about 1,400.{/mprestriction}