#United States #Flourish Research #Valkyrie Clinical Trials #oncology partnership #Apex, NC

Flourish Research Partners with Valkyrie Clinical Trials for Oncology Expansion

In an ambitious move to broaden its horizons within the oncology sector, Flourish Research has announced a strategic partnership with Valkyrie Clinical Trials. Based in Apex, North Carolina, Flourish is a leading multi-site clinical trial organization primarily known for its work in cardiovascular, metabolic, neuroscience, and infectious disease research.

Established in 2021 by distinguished oncologist Dr. David Berz, Valkyrie Clinical Trials has quickly positioned itself as a premier network of oncology-focused clinical research sites. With three operational locations in Los Angeles and an extensive network touching over 200,000 cancer patients, Valkyrie has already made significant strides in delivering cutting-edge cancer therapies to a diverse patient population.

Reinhold Schulz, CEO of Flourish, expressed enthusiasm about the new collaboration with Dr. Berz. He stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with Dr. Berz as we enter the oncology market. Valkyrie has achieved remarkable growth and provides deep medical and scientific expertise to an extensive client base, as well as comprehensive access to patients and referral networks.” This partnership intends to not only enhance Flourish’s presence in Southern California but also leverage Valkyrie's extensive experience to accelerate the development of new therapies and ensure life-saving treatments reach those who urgently need them.

Dr. Berz, who serves as both Founder and CEO of Valkyrie, highlighted the significance of this partnership in advancing the mission of providing effective cancer therapies to all patients. He remarked, “Partnering with Flourish marks an exciting new chapter for Valkyrie as we advance our mission to expand access to the most effective cancer therapies for patients of all backgrounds.” By utilizing Flourish’s robust national infrastructure, Valkyrie aims to enhance its growth trajectory and broaden access to innovative oncology trials.

The collaboration is notable not just for its immediate impacts but also for its long-term potential to transform cancer clinical research. Scott Niehaus, Managing Director at Genstar Capital—which acquired Flourish in 2024—addressed this aspect by affirming the impressive work Dr. Berz and his team have accomplished. His comment on the strategic significance of this partnership encapsulates its value to both entities and the patients they serve. “This marks Flourish's fifth deal under Genstar ownership, continuing our investment behind Reinhold and the Flourish management team as they grow this leading integrated site network nationwide,” Niehaus explained.

The legal and financial sides of this partnership have been robustly managed as well. Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Valkyrie, while Sheppard Mullin provided legal counsel to them. Flourish, too, had Ropes & Gray LLP lending their legal expertise during this significant acquisition process.

About Flourish Research

Flourish Research operates a broad network of clinical trial sites and boasts a credible, experienced team of over 160 investigators. The organization is renowned for a reliable and predictable patient recruitment process while adhering to high standards of quality and operational excellence. It aims to serve both patients and its biopharma sponsors with efficiency and expertise, paving the way for new treatment options to emerge in the pipeline faster.

About Genstar Capital

With over three decades of experience, Genstar Capital is a leading private equity firm focusing on high-quality investments primarily in healthcare, software, financial services, and industrial sectors. They partner closely with management teams to evolve their portfolio companies into market-leading entities, maintaining approximately $50 billion in assets under management.

This partnership between Flourish and Valkyrie symbolizes a significant advancement in bridging the gap between cutting-edge cancer therapies and patient accessibility, providing hope for numerous individuals affected by cancer—and setting a new standard in oncology research that could inspire similar initiatives across the country.