Optimapharm is pleased to announce the expansion of its office network, with new offices opening in New York, USA, and Budapest, Hungary, as well as the appointment of Roy Ovel as Chief Commercial Officer and Charles Denis Maher as Vice President Business Development (Americas).

Optimapharm, Europe’s fast-growing full-service contract research organization (CRO), has expanded its office network to New York, USA, and Budapest, Hungary. In addition, to further support its customers and the growth of the company, Optimapharm has appointed experienced new team members – Roy Ovel as Chief Commercial Officer and Charles Denis Maher as Vice President Business Development (Americas).

Optimapharm is a European CRO with the leading position in Central and Southeast Europe and access to a market of over 300 million people. Following the global trend of consolidating the CRO market, Optimapharm is positioning as a market consolidator in the region. At the begining of the year, Optimapharm acquired the leading Czech CRO company MKS Research. Today, Optimapharm is operating from 12 offices, including offices in 11 countries across Europe, through which it is covering activities in 18 European countries. Its New York office will manage operations across the US.

“We have already realized a number of projects in the US; however, by opening our office and strengthening our team, we wish to significantly strengthen our business development activities in the world’s biggest CRO market, to provide US clients with the advantages of conducting trials in Europe. Our continued focus on quality and expedited patient recruitment and retention has led to a 95-percent repeat business rate. This, combined with our strong track record and financial position, has allowed us to continue our growth in both Europe and the US. Roy and Charles joining the company will significantly strengthen our business development activities as they have experience of working globally with virtual and large pharmaceutical companies across the drug development continuum,” says Gordana Greguric Cicak, CEO at Optimapharm.

Roy has over 35 years of experience in the CRO industry during which, he has held numerous senior leadership positions at local CROs as well as larger multinational CROs (ICON & Worldwide Clinical Trials). Roy came to Optimapharm from the position of the Chief Business Development Officer and Executive Vice President, Global Business Development at TFS International. His experience in meeting clients’ challenges and ensuring companies’ growth has been the key to Roy’s success. He is highly customer focused with an ability to take a holistic approach to business.

Charles Denis Maher joins Optimapharm from the global CRO Sundia Meditech Company NY, headquartered in Shanghai, where he worked as Executive Director of Business Development USA. Maher has 25 years of managerial experience in CROs specialized in providing full-service solutions for full product development phases I through IV.

CRO market in US is growing fast

The contract research market in the US is worth USD 20 billion, with an average growth rate of 6.5 percent between 2013 and 2018 (IBISWorld Research, February 2018). Market growth is expected to continue over the coming years due to higher investments in R&D and an expected increase in the number of clinical research projects, particularly in oncology. The global contract research market is projected to go up from USD 39.13 million in 2018 to USD 56.34 billion in 2023 (Research and Markets, February 2018).

For more information, contact Roy Ovel directly on +44 (0) 7789 402080 or roy.ovel@optimapharm.eu.