Zurich, 27th of May 2024: Xlife Sciences AG announces the merger of its portfolio company, palleos healthcare GmbH, with OCT Clinical GmbH. This merger represents a significant milestone in establishing a leading company in the field of clinical research.

palleos healthcare, a Germany-based contract research organization (CRO) focused on oncology, and OCT Clinical, a full-service CRO, have officially merged following the signing of the contract on May 24, 2024.

The merger combines the unique strengths and expertise of both companies, positioning them to offer comprehensive end-to-end services and solutions globally. palleos healthcare, with its primary activities in Western and Central Europe (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), and OCT Clinical, which focuses on Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Baltic States, Ukraine, and Bulgaria), will now jointly recruit patients in a region with a total population of over 300 million people. Henceforth, the combined company will operate under the brand name palleos healthcare.

Dr Philip Räth, Managing Director of palleos healthcare, comments on the merger: “I’m certain that the merger will not just double the expertise of both companies, but square it, thanks to synergistic effects. While OCT Clinical previously just concentrated on the Eastern European market and palleos healthcare on the Central one, together we now cover the entire region, from product development and pre-clinical consulting to regulatory affairs and clinical trials.”

Dmitry Sharov, CEO of OCT Clinical, adds: “OCT Clinical is proud to join forces with palleos healthcare, as it has an excellent reputation in the industry it serves. Now we can offer tailored solutions to our clients to meet their diverse clinical research needs and accelerate the time of bringing their products to market.”

Oliver R. Baumann, CEO of Xlife Sciences, expresses his enthusiasm: “We are excited about the merger of palleos healthcare and OCT Clinical to offer better CRO solutions for global markets. As a strategic partner and shareholder of palleos healthcare, Xlife Sciences sees great potential in this union to increase reach and expand service capacities. This merger promises to deliver top-notch solutions for clinical research and advance global healthcare.”

Notably, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), out of the 55 novel drugs approved in 2023, 42 underwent clinical trials in Europe, including Germany, Georgia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Serbia, Ukraine, and Latvia. Additionally, according to an FDA report, a total of seven Central and Eastern European countries were among the top ten in terms of the number of clinical trial participants, underscoring the strategic importance of this merger for pharmaceutical companies seeking efficient solutions for patient recruitment and successful study outcomes.

This strategic partnership underscores Xlife Sciences commitment to bridging the gap between innovative research and practical healthcare applications, ultimately improving the global landscape of clinical research.

Financial calendar

Kontakt;
Information for investors and journalists: Xlife Sciences AG, Dr. Dennis Fink, dennis.fink@xlifesciences.ch
Contact information palleos healthcare GmbH: pr@palleos.com
Contact information OCT Clinical GmbH: pr@oct-clinicaltrials.com

Xlife Sciences AG, 
Talacker 35, 
8001 Zurich, 
Switzerland,
Phone +41 44 385 84 60
info@xlifesciences.ch, www.xlifesciences.ch, 
Commercial Register Zurich CHE-330.279.788 
Stock Exchange: SIX Swiss Exchange

About Xlife Sciences AG (SIX: XLS) 

Xlife Sciences is a Swiss company focused as incubator and accelerator on the value development and commercialization of promising research projects from universities and other research institutions in the life sciences sector, with the aim of providing solutions for high unmet medical needs and a better quality of life. The goal is to bridge research and development to healthcare markets. Xlife Sciences takes carefully selected projects in the four areas of technological platforms, biotechnology/ therapies, medical technology, and artificial intelligence/digital health to the next stage of development, and participates in their subsequent performance. For more information, visit www.xlifesciences.ch 

About palleos healthcare GmbH

palleos healthcare is a full-service contract research organization (CRO) focused on the development of healthcare products and based in Central Europe. Over 10,000 patients at 300 sites have been treated in various studies and indications, with the results of these studies published in high-ranking journals and presented at conferences (e.g., ASCO Annual Meeting). As a certified partner with highly regarded players in the digital life sciences sector (e.g. Veeva and Medidata), palleos healthcare also offers cloud-based services (data management platform and decentralized clinical trials) for the development of clinical drugs and medical devices. For more information, visit www.palleos.com 

About OCT Clinical

OCT Clinical is a full-service contract research organization and a leader in the Eastern European market. The company's portfolio already includes more than 360 I-IV and BE clinical trials in the field of Oncology, Infectious Diseases, GI, Rheumatology, and other therapeutic areas. For more information, visit www.oct-clinicaltrials.com 

Disclaimer 

Some of the information contained in this media release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Xlife Sciences undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.