“CRST is a significant addition to LINK Medical, further strengthening the value we bring to our clients. By adding CRST’s extensive portfolio of Phase I/First-in-human services we can now offer a complete range of services for our early-phase clients, and we can partner with our clients from phase I, all the way through phase III. The acquisition of CRST will further strengthen our position as a leading Nordic full-service CRO and regulatory service provider.” says Anders Göransson, CEO of LINK Medical.

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The LINK Medical Board has announced the appointment of Anders Göransson as the new CEO of LINK Medical. 

CRST

Finnish contract research organization CRST was established in 1995 as a service unit of the University of Turku and was incorporated as an independent limited company in 2014. The company operates in Turku and Helsinki, Finland. The majority shareholder (51%) of CRST is UTU Holding Ltd., a holding company fully owned by the University of Turku.

CRST operates two early phase clinics in Turku and Helsinki accessible to over 50% of the Finnish population. The main services include conducting first-in-human, phase I, bioequivalence, bioavailability and PK/PD studies within CNS, gastroenterology, metabolic, cardiovascular diseases and oncology. CRST’s clients consist of many Finnish and Nordic biotech and biopharmaceutical companies, as well as big pharma clients.

“Joining forces with LINK Medical gives us good opportunities to grow and expand our international CRO business together,” says Siru Helminen, CEO of UTU Holding Ltd.

UTU Holding remains a minority shareholder in LINK Medical.

The acquisition will  not impact the current customer relationships, partnerships, or personnel at CRST or LINK Medical, states the companies.