Everest Clinical Research Acquires Firma Clinical Research’s Data Services Unit to Expand Global Biometrics CRO Capabilities

• Everest Clinical Research, a data-first, full-service CRO and portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has acquired the Biometrics and Data Services business unit of Firma Clinical Research — a team with a track record spanning more than 1,000 clinical studies and over 60 NDA submissions across oncology, neurology, rare disease, hepatology, and nephrology — expanding Everest’s global biometrics and clinical data science capabilities across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific.

• Existing Firma DS clients will gain access to Everest’s full-service CRO infrastructure including regulatory strategy, clinical operations, clinical trial technologies, medical affairs, patient safety, and medical writing under a single global CRO partner, while the acquired biometrics team joins Everest’s global organization with continuity of personnel and service maintained as the highest transition priority.

Everest Clinical Research, a data-first, full-service contract research organization and portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, announced on September 17, 2026, from Toronto, Canada, the acquisition of the Biometrics and Data Services business unit of Firma Clinical Research. The transaction strengthens Everest’s clinical data science capabilities and global delivery infrastructure, bringing an experienced biometrics team with a track record spanning more than 1,000 clinical studies and over 60 New Drug Application submissions across complex therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology, rare disease, hepatology, and nephrology.

Firma DS provides biometrics and clinical data services to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic companies across the clinical development lifecycle. The business unit’s expertise spans the full scope of clinical data science functions required to support regulatory submissions — an area of growing strategic importance for CRO clients seeking partners that can manage data complexity, cross-geography regulatory requirements, and increasingly sophisticated study designs without sacrificing delivery speed or quality. The acquisition of this team directly reinforces what Everest describes as its data-first CRO model — a delivery philosophy in which biometrics and clinical data science are positioned as the foundational capability from which all other clinical development services extend.

The acquisition has direct implications for sponsors currently partnered with Firma DS. Existing clients will gain access to Everest’s global CRO infrastructure spanning regulatory strategy, clinical operations, clinical trial technologies, medical affairs, patient safety, and medical writing — transitioning from a specialized biometrics service relationship into a full-service CRO partnership without disruption to their active programs. Everest has identified team continuity and seamless service delivery as the highest priority throughout the transition, with the experienced Firma DS professionals joining Everest’s global organization and continuing to serve existing client programs.

The geographic rationale for the acquisition is grounded in where clinical development activity is growing. Firma DS’s existing U.S. delivery capabilities combine with Everest’s established Asia-Pacific operations to create a more robust global biometrics and data science platform serving sponsors executing cross-regional studies. Everest operates across North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, and the expanded biometrics bench supports the company’s ability to serve sponsors navigating increasingly multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments — a trend that is accelerating as more biotech companies pursue concurrent FDA, EMA, and regional agency submissions from earlier development stages.

“This acquisition reflects our continued investment in exceptional clinical data science talent and reinforces our commitment to helping clients bring therapies to patients faster. From our earliest conversations, it was clear that the Firma DS team shares our commitment to high-quality delivery with flexibility, responsiveness and speed. Together, we are expanding our ability to support sponsors with increasingly complex clinical development programs around the world.”

Jin Dai, Chief Executive Officer, Everest Clinical Research