INC Research has expanded its geographic footprint across the Middle East, north Africa and southern Europe by acquiring Lebanon-based contract research organisation (CRO) MEK Consulting.
MEK, which also has offices in Greece and Turkey, is a clinical monitoring-focused CRO with more than 40 employees.
INC chief executive Jamie Macdonald said: “The Middle East and north Africa region offers significant opportunities for new drug development due to its large patient populations, highly qualified medical personnel and increasingly sophisticated regulatory environments.
“The acquisition of MEK Consulting provides INC Research’s customers with access to this expanding region for biopharmaceutical development and further demonstrates our commitment to connect them to everything they need to conduct their trials.”
MEK will now operate under the INC Research name but it will continue to be led by founders Myriam El-Khazen and Selim Dagher, who become general manager and executive director, commercial operations, respectively.
Myriam El-Khazen said: “We believe this acquisition will bring the MENA region and southern Europe to a new era in clinical research. This will be advantageous for our customers, the patients in the region and our company.”