Fortrea Acquires Worldwide Clinical Trials Early Phase Division for $45 Million

Fortrea signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Early Phase Services division of Worldwide Clinical Trials for approximately $45 million in cash. The transaction includes three Texas-based facilities: a 60,000-square-foot bioanalytical laboratory in Austin, a 200-bed clinical pharmacology unit in San Antonio, and a biospecimen storage facility in Pflugerville.

This acquisition expands Fortrea's North American clinical research footprint and integrates large and small molecule bioanalytical capabilities into its Clinical Pharmacology Services business. CEO Anshul Thakral described the move as an investment in the company's end-to-end clinical development platform, supporting customers from first-in-human studies through post-approval evidence generation.

For Worldwide Clinical Trials, the sale facilitates a strategic shift in resources. CEO Alistair Macdonald stated the divestiture allows the company to focus investments on its growing late-stage business within the rare disease, internal medicine, neuroscience, and oncology therapeutic areas. The deal remains subject to license and regulatory approvals.