Merge Healthcare acquires etrials Worldwide
West Allis-based Merge Healthcare has reached an agreement to acquire Morrisville, N.C.-based etrials Worldwide Inc.
The combined organization will provide clinical trial sponsors and contract research organizations with solutions that include both imaging technologies and eClinical capabilities.
“Our Merge OEM team has been a supplier of imaging solutions to pharmaceutical companies, CROs, the National Institute of Health and to veterinary hospitals for years,” said Justin Dearborn, CEO of Merge Healthcare. “We believe that there could be significant synergy from incorporating our imaging and data hosting solutions with etrials’ broad portfolio of integrated eClinical solutions. etrials’ experience in conducting global clinical trials also complements Merge’s international expansion initiatives.”
"etrials welcomes this opportunity to become part of Merge Healthcare,” said M. Denis Connaghan, CEO of etrials. “It continues with our strategy to take the industry in a new direction that is increasingly in demand by bringing our customers access to additional capabilities that we believe increases the value of the important clinical trial development they perform. It also gives the etrials organization a broader base of financial, product and development resources, and international relationships to continue the improvements that have been made and enable an expansion of the business.”
“This acquisition enables both companies to leverage the other’s customer relationships, from pharmaceutical companies, CRO’s, medical device manufacturers and veterinary hospitals; creating cross-sell and up-sell opportunities,” said Dearborn. “etrials’ offerings have no overlap with Merge’s products. We believe that this acquisition will deliver significant added value to each company’s customers, partners and shareholders.”
