FutureMeds has acquired emovis, the Berlin-based dedicated study site and award-winning pan-European DCT solutions provider. The fusion of FutureMeds' transformational, fully owned dedicated research site network model and emovis' proven expertise promises to bring about clinical trial solutions that will foster stronger partnerships with clients through even higher performance, efficiency, and quality.
FutureMeds has acquired emovis, a dedicated research site and DCT solution provider based in Berlin, Germany. This strategic expansion is a significant milestone in FutureMeds’ mission to become the most respected site network in Europe.
In addition to significantly enhancing FutureMeds’ capabilities in driving DCT trials and increasing client R&D productivity in Europe, our combined company capabilities, know-how, and solutions will enable our clients to:
Rely on our experts to shape strategy and novel trial designs,
Access larger suitable patient populations,
Boost diversity and inclusion, and patient experience,
Achieve higher compliance,
Strengthen patient retention rates, and
Protect study timelines.
“From the moment we met, I was impressed by the expertise, knowledge, and enthusiasm of the emovis team. They are a highly regarded and innovative team, and we have been following their progress for years. I am thrilled that we are now joining forces and excited to see what we can accomplish together. With Bettina in our team, I am confident Germany will be one of the top countries of the FutureMeds dedicated research site network”
- Dr Radoslaw Janiak, CEO of FutureMeds
The award-winning emovis, known for its exceptional, innovative trial solutions, clinical study delivery, and patient-focused approach, shares FutureMeds’ commitment to advancing clinical research and improving patient care. Together, our teams will strengthen FutureMeds’ position and continue to make breakthroughs that can benefit patients worldwide.
Led by the founder and CEO, Dr Bettina Bergtholdt, emovis has been a prominent investigator site since its incorporation in 2001. Their experienced team recruited more than 9,000 patients, reaching promised recruitment numbers in 90% of over 250 trials (Phase Ib-IV) in 120 indications across 14 therapeutic areas. Over its more than 20-year history, emovis also successfully passed over 30 audits.
“The two companies are like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly. FutureMeds is much more experienced in international business than emovis and is a much bigger company. emovis, on the other hand, brings a lot of knowledge and expertise regarding Homecare Visits, DCTs, and other services. We also have a strong team in Berlin and combining all of our resources is going to benefit both companies immensely.”
- Dr Bettina Bergtholdt, Managing Director of FutureMeds Germany
Dr Bettina Bergtholdt will assume the role of Managing Director of FutureMeds Germany. She will be responsible for
Growing FutureMeds' footprint in the country through additional dedicated research sites,
Supporting the development of FutureMeds European DCT trial solution, and
Increasing DCT readiness across all FutureMeds sites in the network.
“Besides growing the site network in Germany, due to my experience in homecare visits and decentralised clinical trials, I will continue to develop these services and support the growth of these services over the years. First, we will focus on the countries where FutureMeds has a presence and active sites. But the bigger goal will be to offer DCT solutions and services all over the EU and the UK. I am looking forward to taking on these tasks.”
- Dr Bettina Bergtholdt, Managing Director of FutureMeds Germany
The emovis site will continue its success story under the FutureMeds umbrella led by the experienced Site Director, Ninon Armbrust. The site is expected to attract 30% more trials through FutureMeds’ network and business development capabilities in the coming years.
Clients and Industry Stakeholder Benefits
The acquisition opens the doors for synergies between emovis’ and FutureMeds’ teams that will take FutureMeds’ site and trial solutions to the next level and support emovis in conducting more trials.
“Both partners bring strong, long-term clinical research experiences and expertise to the table. Combining our capabilities, know-how, and optimising our processes and operations will enable us to develop pan-European solutions and offerings, provide effective strategies to clients, and drive even better outcomes for clients, patients, and all clinical research stakeholders.”
- Iwona Tongbhoyai, Vice President of Operations at FutureMeds
The combined company will leverage processes, know-how, and technologies to develop pan-European DCT trial solutions and offerings that can improve study outcomes, protect sponsor timelines, and improve data quality through strengthened investigational drug adherence and better patient engagement.
The established and evolving Homecare Visits solution and DCT expertise of emovis, for instance, will significantly enhance FutureMeds’ capabilities in driving DCT trials and protecting study timelines in Europe.
As FutureMeds' first stronghold in Germany, emovis will also add additional CNS capabilities to FutureMeds' growing Therapeutic Area portfolio.
The team at emovis, in turn, will be able to leverage FutureMeds' reach, resources, systems, and processes, and access multi-country studies to secure more trials and improve their already prominent standing in the German and international markets.
Additionally, the combined company will have a deeper knowledge base to tap into that can help our teams across the countries to share their unique expertise, dissect best practices, and learn from each other.
FutureMeds, Europe’s first DCT Site Network
The team at emovis has over 11 years of experience delivering hybrid trials. Throughout these years, they achieved deep domain expertise due to engaging in trials that include DCT elements and developing services and a DCT framework & toolbox that can significantly improve patient experience.
One of the essential building blocks of emovis’ DCT framework is their Homecare Visits (HCV) service which they have been offering since 2012. Over the next decade, the emovis team focused on streamlining & optimising processes, improving service quality, and extending their footprint across the EU and the UK. Their commitment to patient experience and investment in continuous improvements earned emovis HomeCare Visits the DEN Innovation Prize in 2015.
By the time of the pandemic, emovis HomeCare Visits were among the most mature and high-quality solutions on the market. Since then, their dedicated homecare nurse database has surpassed the 1,100 mark, enabling the team to carry out larger-scale trials across 16 European countries, relying on high-quality, vetted, clinical trial-trained nurses. With emovis' HomeCare Visits service and DCT capabilities, FutureMeds is now on a fast track to becoming the First European DCT Site Network, offering HomeCare Visits in 16 countries, and DCT capabilities in 6 countries.
Germany: The Major European Pharmaceutical Market
Germany is a pharmaceutical powerhouse with over 30 biotechnology clusters dedicated to drug development. These clusters attract top talent, connect scientific expertise with academics, and industry players, creating an environment of innovation. To drive progress and encourage development, the pharmaceutical industry in Germany invested almost €7.4 billion in R&D and the sector reinvested about 12.5% of the revenues in R&D in 2018.
Top therapy areas for industry-sponsored clinical trials in Germany
The country’s drug development activity revolves around two therapy areas, infectious diseases and oncology. These have been identified as the focal points of activity by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in order to support the self-care and medication of the ageing population of Germany and the world.
According to GlobalData, Oncology was the leading therapy area for industry-sponsored clinical trials in Germany in 2021. This therapeutic area was followed by Central Nervous System, Infectious Disease, Immunology, and Metabolic Disorders.
From a non-industry-sponsored clinical trials perspective, Infectious Disease was the leading therapy area in 2021. It was followed by Oncology, Gastrointestinal, and Cardiovascular therapeutic areas.
Why Germany is a highly attractive clinical trial destination
Although the pandemic legislation and regulation boosting ripple effects of other countries seem to have temporarily decreased studies starting in Germany, the country remains one of the most desirable locations for clinical trials.
Germany has one of the most developed healthcare systems in the world, with access to top expertise and cutting-edge technology driven by research in their biotechnology clusters. On top of all, Germany, the “pharmacy of the world,” is the strategic gateway to the single European market.
The recently published EU DCT guidance is also a promising sign. It can encourage more effective communication between all parties in the industry.
Conclusion
At FutureMeds, we are on a mission to become Europe’s most respected Clinical Trial Network, transform the site network model, and deliver effective complex European solutions through local expertise.
By expanding our Dedicated Research Site Network into Germany, joining forces with emovis’ experienced team, developing a new DCT trial solution, and increasing DCT readiness across our network, FutureMeds continues to increase the quality of service, boost client access to a more diverse patient pool, and accelerate trial delivery through process innovation and best-in-class patient recruitment.
About emovis
Emovis has been a reliable, versatile service provider for phases II-IV clinical trials since its establishment in 2001. As one of the best study sites in Germany, emovis has recruited more than 9,000 patients in over 250 studies across 120 indications and 14 therapeutic areas.
In 2012, emovis launched the Homecare Visits (HCV) service, an innovative solution to improve the patient experience. Now present in 16 European countries and with over 1,100 dedicated homecare nurses in their database, Homecare Visits (HCV) is one of the cornerstones of the emovis DCT framework and offerings.
About FutureMeds
FutureMeds is a fast-growing, independent Dedicated Research Site Network with high DCT readiness, supporting pharmaceutical companies, sponsors, and CROs, and contributing to research to find effective treatments and medications for all patients who need them.
FutureMeds' Dedicated Research Site teams strive to accelerate study timelines, streamline processes, lower costs, and improve data quality to help accelerate patient access to new treatments.
Through acquisitions and a strategic focus on patient experience, FutureMeds has developed qualified patient pools across Europe that enable faster patient enrollment, strong retention, and the generation of more accurate results.
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