Fengate Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Clinical Research of West Florida (CRWF), an independent clinical research site network serving the Tampa Bay region. The deal, managed on behalf of the Li UNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada, marks Fengate's second pharma services platform investment and extends its healthcare coverage from commercialization into clinical development.
CRWF operates three research facilities in Tampa and Clearwater, including a dedicated Phase I unit, and has supported over 1,000 trials for nearly 300 sponsors and CROs. Founded in 1995 and led by president Aydin Keskiner, the company is expanding its trial capacity with Fengate's backing through investments in talent, site infrastructure and therapeutic depth.
"Sponsors and CROs increasingly need site partners that can deliver consistent enrollment, quality and execution at scale," said Maxim Tcherner, managing director at Fengate Private Equity. Tcherner noted CRWF was "the right platform to build a leading regional network while preserving the qualities that have made the company successful."
CRWF's clinical team includes six board-certified principal investigators with expertise in autoimmune, pulmonology and endocrinology. The company plans to partner with independent sites and develop new ones to enhance its capabilities.
Source: PE Hub · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing