Norton Rose Fulbright advises Profil on acquisition of US clinical research organisation

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Profil Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH (Profil) on its acquisition of US based clinical research organisation Tranquil Clinical and Research Consulting Services, LLC.

The transaction involved a reverse subsidiary merger and the issuance of rollover equity in the Profil parent company in Germany to the seller. It establishes Profil's first clinical research presence in the United States, expanding its global early phase metabolic trial capabilities and supporting international drug development programmes.

Profil is a leading full service contract research organisation focused on early phase clinical trials in metabolic disorders. Tranquil is an established US clinical research organisation, providing access to a large and diverse participant population and enabling efficient recruitment for early phase trials.

Norton Rose Fulbright advised Profil on all aspects of the transaction, including corporate, health regulatory, tax, employment, intellectual property, and privacy and data security matters.

The cross-border Norton Rose Fulbright team was led by London-based partner Jamal Tuhin and New York-based partner Purvi Badiani Maniar. They were supported by partners Ward Atterbury; Bernd Dreier, who advised on German law aspects; Barry Segal, who advised on Canadian corporate and tax matters; and Dante Trevedan, who advised on Mexico related employment matters.

US tax advice was provided by partner Michael Flamenbaum; US employment advice by partner David Gallai and FDA regulatory advice by partner Mark Faccenda. Further support was provided by associate Jessie Johnson, paralegal Jimmy Fears and colleagues across intellectual property, privacy and data security, and real estate.

Purvi Badiani Maniar said:

"We were pleased to advise on this complex, multi-jurisdictional transaction, which involved corporate, regulatory, tax and employment considerations across several countries. This matter reflects the strength of the firm's global platform and expertise in advising clients in the clinical research and life sciences industry seamlessly within the US and across multiple international jurisdictions."

Norton Rose Fulbright's global life sciences and healthcare team provides a full range of legal advice to innovative pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies and industry investors at every stage of the product life cycle, from M&A to intellectual property protections and commercial transactions. The firm's lawyers also provide clients with a broad range of regulatory advice, covering such diverse topics as marketing authorisations and post-market surveillance, competition matters, governmental healthcare and procurement programs, trade controls, and anti-bribery and corruption compliance.