BPOC, a healthcare private equity investor, has launched Atlas Clinical Research, a therapeutically-driven clinical site network led by Mark Scullion as chief executive officer.

Atlas was formed to build a clinical research site network through acquisition and organic growth, leveraging a platform that looks to help with critical pain points for pharmaceutical sponsors. As part of the launch, Atlas has formed a strategic partnership with Rochester Clinical Research, a research site that has conducted over 1,000 clinical trials involving 55,000 study volunteers. Founded in 1994 by Patricia Larrabee, RCR is a multi-therapeutic clinical research site serving trial volunteers in Rochester, N.Y. and the surrounding five counties. RCR is the research site on which the network will be modeled.

“RCR has invested significantly in capabilities and technology and is a meaningful first step in executing on our strategy to create a platform of scale built on centralized management and sophisticated systems with greater strength to partner effectively with sponsors and CROs,” states Scullion.

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. served as financial advisor and Barclay Damon LLP served as legal counsel to the Larrabee family in connection with the transaction. Paul Hastings LLP served as legal counsel to BPOC and Oxford Finance LLC provided debt financing.