LDC completes exit of Synexus

Private equity firm LDC has completed the exit of Synexus, a global research site group which provides patient recruitment and treatment services in support of drug research for clinical trials, in a deal that values the business at £178m.

Synexus is one of the only global patient enrolment and investigator site management organisations. It enrols and manages patients for large, complex clinical trials on behalf of a number of leading international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and contract research organisations.

LDC backed the £83m secondary buyout of Synexus in March 2015 and during its tenure supported the acquisition of Research Across America (RAA). The deal, which completed in March 2016, enabled Synexus to enter the US market, as well as providing additional expertise in areas such as dermatology and genetics.

Martin Draper, chief executive of LDC, said: “Since our investment in Synexus, the business has continued to outperform expectations, delivering strong organic growth and expanding its geographical presence and therapeutic areas of expertise with the acquisition of RAA in the US earlier this year.