Care Access Expands Latin American Footprint with Strategic Acquisition of Brazil's CEMEC, Highlighting Region's Growing Importance in Clinical Research
March 10, 2025. The acquisition of Centro Multidisciplinar de Estudos Clínicos (CEMEC) by Care Access represents a significant development in Latin America's clinical research landscape, reinforcing the region's emerging status as a preferred destination for clinical trials. This strategic move, announced on March 10, 2025, marks another milestone in Care Access's ongoing expansion throughout Latin America and signals growing international recognition of the region's research capabilities. The acquisition will combine CEMEC's established presence in Brazil with Care Access's innovative clinical trial methodologies, further enhancing research accessibility across Latin American communities and demonstrating the region's increasing importance in the global clinical research ecosystem.
Latin America's Emerging Position in Global Clinical Research
The clinical research landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with Latin America increasingly recognized as a vital region for conducting high-quality clinical trials. Care Access's acquisition of CEMEC represents more than just a business transaction; it symbolizes the growing international investment in Latin America's research infrastructure. This strategic move is part of Care Access's broader expansion strategy in the region, which began with their 2022 acquisition of Instituto Brasil de Pesquisa Clínica (IBPClin)1. The company has demonstrated consistent commitment to the Latin American market, as evidenced by the opening of a new research site in Xerém in 2024 and plans for another site in São Paulo scheduled to open in May 20251.
This expansion trajectory reflects the recognition of Latin America's unique advantages as a clinical trial destination. The region offers access to diverse patient populations, established research centers, and growing regulatory harmonization. Care Access's CEO and Co-Founder, Ahmad Namvargolian, explicitly confirmed the strategic importance of the region, stating: "Increasing our presence in Latin America is a top priority for us right now. Some of the world's best research centers are here with research opportunities expanding rapidly in the region."1 This acknowledgment from a global health and research company underscores Latin America's rising profile in the clinical research industry.
CEMEC's Research Capabilities and Regional Significance
CEMEC has established itself as a prominent player in Brazil's clinical research sector, operating a comprehensive research center in São Bernardo do Campo. The facility demonstrates the sophisticated research infrastructure developing across Latin America, with capabilities for conducting Phase 2, 3, and 4 clinical studies in both outpatient and hospital settings1. Since its establishment, CEMEC has successfully completed over 100 trials spanning 18 therapeutic areas, showcasing the breadth and depth of clinical research expertise within the region1. This extensive experience makes CEMEC representative of the high-quality research centers emerging throughout Latin America.
The acquisition will enhance CEMEC's existing capabilities through integration with Care Access's innovative methodologies and resources. Rodrigo Pavani, co-owner of CEMEC, highlighted a critical challenge in the region that this partnership aims to address: "We are excited to bring those capabilities to our research center here in Brazil, where clinical trials opportunities can be difficult to access for many."1 This statement acknowledges both the challenges and opportunities within Latin America's clinical research landscape, where expanding access remains a priority for realizing the region's full potential as a clinical trial destination.
Expanding Research Access and Infrastructure Across Latin America
Care Access's strategic vision extends beyond Brazil to the broader Latin American region. The company has announced plans for additional research sites not only in Brazil but also in Argentina and other Latin American countries2. This expansion plan demonstrates recognition of the diverse opportunities across different Latin American markets and a commitment to establishing a comprehensive regional presence. The strategy includes not only fixed research centers but also the expansion of a fleet of mobile clinics and a logistics hub specifically designed to broaden research availability to more communities throughout Latin America1.
The mobile clinical infrastructure represents an innovative approach to addressing one of the region's historical challenges: providing access to clinical trials in remote or underserved areas. By deploying mobile health clinics, Care Access will make research participation more accessible and convenient for participants across São Paulo and surrounding communities1. This model could serve as a template for expanding clinical trial access throughout Latin America, potentially transforming how research is conducted in the region by bringing studies directly to participants rather than requiring them to travel to major urban centers.
Enhancing Latin America's Competitive Advantage in Clinical Research
The acquisition will significantly strengthen Latin America's position in the competitive global clinical research landscape. Care Access's Future of Medicine program, which will now be implemented at CEMEC, specifically addresses key factors that have sometimes limited clinical trial participation in the region. The program accelerates clinical trial enrollment by bringing community health screenings and research opportunities to more people, particularly in remote and underserved communities1. This approach directly tackles historical barriers to participation and aims to improve representation in clinical trials to more accurately reflect real-world populations – a critical consideration for sponsors seeking diverse patient cohorts.
Care Access brings substantial resources to support this mission, including a global team of over 1,000 clinical research professionals whose expertise can now be leveraged by CEMEC2. This infusion of knowledge and operational support will further elevate the standards of clinical research in Brazil and, by extension, enhance Latin America's reputation as a destination for high-quality clinical trials. The communities served by CEMEC will gain access to health screenings, research education, and other services through Care Access's Future of Medicine program2, creating a more conducive environment for successful clinical research throughout the region.
Implications for Latin America's Clinical Research Future
This acquisition exemplifies a broader trend of increasing investment and capability development in Latin America's clinical research sector. The strategic partnership between Care Access and CEMEC will support the latter's commitment to improving and expanding research access for communities in Brazil while furthering Care Access's plan to deliver health services and cutting-edge research opportunities to more communities throughout the region1. This collaborative approach recognizes that developing Latin America as a premier clinical trial destination requires both local expertise and global resources.
By combining CEMEC's established presence and expertise with Care Access's strategic and operational support, the partnership aims to "bring top-quality research and care to even more communities and ultimately improve health outcomes for more people," according to Namvargolian1. This statement reflects the dual benefit of expanding clinical research in Latin America: providing local populations with access to innovative treatments while generating valuable clinical data for global medical advancement. The acquisition thus represents a model for how international research organizations can effectively partner with established local centers to maximize Latin America's potential as a clinical research destination.
Conclusion
The acquisition of CEMEC by Care Access illustrates the growing recognition of Latin America as a vital region for clinical research. This strategic move, part of a broader expansion effort across the region, brings together local expertise and global resources to enhance research capabilities and expand access to clinical trials. As demonstrated by Care Access's ongoing investment, Latin America offers unique advantages for clinical research, including diverse patient populations, established research centers, and improving infrastructure. The company's commitment to mobile clinics and community-based approaches addresses historical barriers to research participation in the region, potentially transforming how clinical trials are conducted throughout Latin America. As this and similar investments continue, Latin America is increasingly positioning itself as a preferred destination for sponsors seeking efficient, high-quality, and representative clinical trials – promising benefits for both global medical advancement and local healthcare systems.
