In a strategic move to expand its retina research footprint across the development landscape, ophthalmology clinical research organization (CRO) Lexitas Pharma Services has purchased Erie Retina Research (ERR).
The acquisition also extends to CASExERIE, LLC—ERR’s ophthalmic innovation hub—and the assets of Element Erie: Imaging & Reading Center PLLC.
Lots to cover! Let’s begin with Lexitas.
A portfolio company of QHP Capital, Lexitas is a specialized CRO that assists pharma, biotech, and medical device companies in designing and running ophthalmic clinical trials for investigational assets (drugs, devices, and therapies).
Among its offerings: An expert team specializing in ophthalmology and clinical research; personalized operating procedures and systems; and end-to-end expert guidance across all ophthalmic specialties for each stage of the clinical development process.
And included in its services: Clinical trial design and management; regulatory strategy support; ophthalmic imaging and reading center services; site management and investigator networks: and medical monitoring as well as data management and analysis.
- Check out its current partnering clinical practices.
- Take a look at its expansive ophthalmic subspecialty focus.
And how does Erie Retina Research factor in?
Founded by President and CEO David R.P. Almeida, MD, MBA, PhD (also a vitreoretinal surgeon), the Erie, Pennsylvania-based ophthalmic clinical research center offers advanced surgical and pharmaceutical ophthalmic research—including treatments to patients with ophthalmic and retinal diseases.
Its primary focus: retinal diseases and vitreoretinal surgery research.
And among its offerings: Assisting pharma and biotech companies with testing new treatments via:
- Facilitating clinical studies
- Retinal imaging analysis
- Surgical innovation programs
- Device development
- Ophthalmic training and education
… now bring in CASExERIE and Element Erie.
As we mentioned earlier, these two programs are actually affiliated with ERR, with each supporting the research center’s advanced ophthalmic device testing, surgical simulations, and retinal imaging grading.
CASE (Centers for Advanced Surgical Exploration)xERIE is an ophthalmic innovation hub specializing in advanced research, surgical training, and retina-focused development.
Element Erie, on the other hand, is focused on interpreting retinal imaging for clinical trials.
So how will each of these benefit Lexitas?
Two words: Ophthalmic innovation. The partnership combines Lexitas’ clinical trial expertise with ERR’s retina science and patient research specialties to offer more advanced and efficient support for retinal clinical trials.
And while CASExERIE’s capabilities will expand the CRO’s arsenal—via surgical innovations, physician training, and medical device development—the addition of Element Erie signifies a major expansion to Lexitas’ reading center services with:
- Larger imaging datasets
- Expert image grading and interpretation
- Support for more accurate treatment outcome evaluations in clinical trials
Definitely sounds like a good fit for Lexitas. Do we know the price tag for this deal?
Unfortunately, no. Lexitas did not disclose any monetary value attached to the acquisition.
Gotcha. Let’s take a closer look at the bigger picture of this for the CRO.
The partnership enables Lexias to establish a fully integrated retina research platform offering increased consistency, accelerated timelines, and advanced quality “across the full clinical development cycle,” according to Lexitas.
And with this platform comes a few other key advantages:
- Expanded patient access (thanks to combining Lexitas and ERR’s networks)
- Faster, more predictable patient enrollment
- Reduced delays and variability in trial operations
- Specialized access to surgical training and device evaluation
- Enhanced expertise in surgical and medical device trials
- Centralized image reading and analysis expertise
- In-house retina expertise
Sounds pretty impressive. So who will lead these programs?
As part of this acquisition, Dr. Almeida is expected to join Lexitas as Chief Retina Strategy Officer.
His role: Will involve heading up the CRO’s combined retina portfolio’s scientific and strategic developments.
Last question: How can I learn more about the services Lexitas now has to offer?
A broader rundown can be found here.
And for clinical practices interested in partnering with the CRO, request a meeting.