Manipal AcuNova, a Bangalore, India-based CRO has acquired ECRON GmbH a of CRO based in Frankfurt, Germany. The new company will have a combined staff of 265 and will be known as ECRON AcuNova. It will provide services for phase I through IV global studies, including project management, data management, biostatistics, medical writing, central lab and BA/BE.

The new company will maintain both headquarters as well as operate a U.S. hub in Princeton, N.J. Kohkan Shamsi, M.D., will become chief executive officer of ECRON AcuNova and will be based in the U.S.

ECRON’s founder, K. D. Wiedey, M.D., will act as the company’s president in Europe. D.A. Prasanna, M.D. will lead the CRO’s Asia operations. “We are able to strengthen our expertise in clinical trials and data management from our Indian counterparts with faster patient enrollment in clinical trials, timely database lock, high quality early phase development as well as unique features like access to the central lab,” stated Wiedey.