PharmaLex extends reach to Japan, East Asia and Southeast Asia with Ascent Development Services merger

Agreement brings complementary capabilities in clinical, regulatory and scientific affairs for clients in key markets 

Frankfurt, Germany – 8 January 2022: PharmaLex Group, a leading provider of specialized services for the pharma, biotech and medtech industries worldwide, has announced a merger agreement with Ascent Development Services, a Japan-based leader in enabling the integration of  Asia into global pharmaceutical product development.  

Founded in 2017, Ascent’s team of experts work with emerging biopharma companies to understand and overcome differences in medical practice, culture and language in order to achieve the optimal strategic and operational integration of Asia into global drug development.  Headquartered in Tokyo, Ascent employs staff across Asia, including China, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam and provides a balance of country-specific  knowledge mixed with strategic advice from a global perspective.  

The Ascent merger offers access to an attractive client portfolio and adds substantially to PharmaLex’s global footprint, not only in the Japanese market but in other key markets throughout East and Southeast Asia. With deep roots in Asia, Ascent can act as a true partner in the region and, through the merger with PharmaLex, can leverage full service capabilities both locally and globally for emerging biopharma companies to fully pursue globally integrated pharmaceutical product development including Asia.  

“The merger with PharmaLex provides our existing and future clients with access to a robust set of comprehensive and integrated product development capabilities across the US, EU and Asia,” said John Winebarger, CEO of Ascent. ”With our strong cultural fit and highly aligned strategy, Ascent will continue to provide its unique Japan/ Asian oriented services while leveraging PharmaLex’s complementary services in the US and EU in order to provide support of truly global drug development planning and implementation.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome the Ascent team to the PharmaLex Group, and the opportunity to add scale and depth to our developing consulting and scientific affairs services across clinical and regulatory in markets throughout East and Southeast Asia,” said PharmaLex CEO Dr. Thomas Dobmeyer. “The merger enables us to continue our goal of providing integrated product development support to customers worldwide, and to serve emerging biopharma companies by integrating East and Southeast Asia into global clinical development programs.”