Certara, the leading provider of decision support technology and consulting services for optimizing drug development and improving health outcomes, has acquired d3 Medicine. d3 Medicine, which is based in Parsippany, New Jersey and Melbourne, Australia, provides strategic planning and stewardship of complex drug development programmes.

d3 Medicine staff will become part of Certara’s Strategic Consulting (CSC) division, which was formed in July 2015 through the merger of Quantitative Solutions and Pharsight Consulting Services. CSC is the largest consultancy of its kind; it now has more than 100 scientists, the majority with PhDs, using a broad range of modelling and simulation methods and technologies to support global sponsors in bringing new therapies to patients.

“d3 Medicine’s addition to Certara continues to strengthen our ability to provide our clients with optimized and strategic drug development plans that leverage our unique modelling and simulation, and regulatory advisory and communications expertise,” said Certara chief executive officer (CEO) Edmundo Muniz, MD, PhD. “Our shared mission is to revolutionize the drug development paradigm by applying quantitative science and technologies in an integrated manner to inform the most crucial drug development decisions. To that end, Certara has helped sponsors bring more than 80 new drugs to market, including more than 40 per cent of the novel drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last year.”

The addition of d3 Medicine provides Certara with expanded capabilities and expertise, most notably in the areas of oncology, orphan diseases, infectious diseases and inflammation, including: drug development optimization strategy, stewardship and implementation; regulatory consulting and liaison services with global health authorities, and pressure testing and optimizing licensing and M&A plans.

“We are thrilled to be joining Certara, the most innovative and seasoned modelling and simulation drug development company in the world,” said Craig Rayner, PharmD, MBA, CEO of d3 Medicine. “We share a commitment for putting the patient first and thinking differently, which enables us to accelerate development and optimize the use of new medicines.”

“Regulatory strategy, drug development, and clinical pharmacology reflect the core interests of the top R&D economic decision makers in the pharmaceutical industry. As clinical pharmacology comprises more than 50 per cent of a drug label, the need to understand how to optimize safety and efficacy in all patients is critical. This ‘sweet spot’ of drug development is where d3 and Certara live,” added Dr. Rayner.

d3 Medicine is the latest addition to a series of very successful mergers and acquisitions led by Certara during the past two years. “We continue to implement a very disciplined, thoughtful and focused approach to building the largest, most comprehensive and multidisciplinary modelling and simulation consulting division in the industry,” said CSC president Jaap Mandema, PhD, MS. “We are achieving this premier position by closely listening and responding to our clients’ needs, by constantly increasing the quality of our products, and by adding the competencies and mindset that bring the highest value to their drug development process.”

Financial details about the transaction were not disclosed.

Certara is a leading decision support technology and consulting organization committed to optimizing drug development and improving health outcomes.

d3 Medicine is a global biopharmaceutical strategic advisory company founded by a group of pharmaceutical company executives with decades of drug development experience.