What Private Equity’s Rise in Clinical Research Means for Sites, Sponsors and Trial Outcomes
There has been a sharp uptick in recent years in private equity acquisitions of locally owned research sites. Backed by goals for greater scale and operational efficiency, these firms are assembling site networks that span geographies and specialties.
But as this trend accelerates, stakeholders across the clinical trial ecosystem are taking stock of what’s gained—and what might be lost.
At Remington-Davis, we’ve paid close attention to these changes. As an independent site with more than three decades of clinical research experience, we’re not here to take sides but rather to give voice to concerns about how shifts in site ownership affect the heart of what makes trials successful: the patient experience.
The Changing Face of Site Ownership
There’s no denying the strategic appeal of private equity in clinical research. Investor-backed consolidation can offer standardized processes, advanced technologies, and centralized support, all particularly attractive to those of us in a highly regulated and increasingly complex field.
According to Fierce Biotech, clinical trial sites have become “the hottest category of pharma services” as PE firms pivot from physician practices into life sciences.
For sponsors and CROs, large site networks can offer consistency and efficiency. But as consolidation increases, so do the questions about how these changes affect trial execution at the ground level.
Concerns Around Patient Experience
Behind the often impersonal metrics of enrollment and data quality lies a human truth: clinical trials completely rely on participant engagement and trust. It’s up to coordinators and investigators to earn that trust, often by explaining complicated protocols, providing safe, comfortable visit environments, or adapting visit schedules to minimize patient burden.
Some worry that when decision-making is centralized or controlled by investors with limited clinical experience, the patient-first mindset may begin to erode. The concern isn’t that PE-backed sites can’t execute, but that something subtle and essential might shift. The local knowledge, relationship-building, and agility that many independent sites are known for is harder to replicate at scale.
Strained Relationships and Communication Gaps
These dynamics don’t exist in a vacuum. They affect day-to-day relationships between sites, CROs, and sponsors.
Consolidation has the potential to exacerbate operational and communication challenges. This is especially true when site staff feel removed from key decisions or when sponsors struggle to maintain the same level of collaboration across a large network.
In turn, this can lead to friction and mistrust—issues that can undermine trial timelines, data quality, and overall outcomes.
Why the Patient Experience Still Is the Best Gauge of Success
Study protocols are more complex than ever. And the success of those studies hinges on retention, compliance, and participant satisfaction.
At a time when patient drop-out remains a leading cause of trial delays, preserving the human connection at clinical sites is a strategic imperative.
When patients feel cared for, respected, and supported, they stay. And when patients stay, studies complete on time and with the kind of high-quality data sponsors rely on.
We’re Proud To Be an Independent Research Site
Remington-Davis (RDI) has the ability to act quickly, adapt to sponsor needs, and prioritize patient care in every interaction. We work hard to make sure that participants feel seen, heard, and supported from their very first contact with our team.
Our 97% patient retention rate is testimony to that approach. But it’s also a reflection of our deep clinical research expertise. With more than three decades of experience and hundreds of successful trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas, we understand the regulatory demands, operational nuances, and data integrity standards sponsors and CROs depend on.
As the industry continues to evolve, we remain committed to doing what we do best: delivering excellent data through exceptional care.
Learn more about how we can support your next clinical trial. Contact us today.