Alacrita Establishes U.S. Headquarters in Boston Area

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, September 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Office opens in Kendall Square to better serve U.S. life science sector

Alacrita, which is changing the face of pharma consulting, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment announced today that the U.K.-based company has expanded into Massachusetts. Alacrita has formally established a new office in Cambridge, Massachusetts that will allow the company to build its U.S. life science consulting capability and more effectively serve its clients in North America. The expansion announcement follows the March 2011 visit to the U.K. by Governor Deval Patrick and a delegation of state leaders from industry, academia and government to promote mutually beneficial collaborations.

Since inception in 2009, Alacrita has built a reputation for delivering expert consulting services to the life science industry. The firm is led by its two founding partners Anthony Walker and Rob Johnson, who are supported by a global network of specialist consultants. Rob Johnson has relocated to Boston to lead the US office.

Alacrita serves a prestigious and expanding client base of life science companies and investors by supporting them on a broad range of technical and commercial issues. The company maintains a network of elite industry professionals that it draws upon to supplement its in-house expertise, which ranges from market and payer research, regulatory affairs and quality through to clinical development and intellectual property.

"To date, we have concentrated on serving our European clients with their European needs. By expanding our presence to the heart of the world's leading life science cluster, we are better configured to serve our growing roster of U.S. clients with their consulting needs," said Johnson. "Massachusetts is home to more than 500 biotech and pharma companies with about 1,000 drugs in development. Despite the complexity of the European market, it equals the U.S. in market size and offers a substantial opportunity for realizing value as well as a source of innovation."

"Thanks to our growth strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure, Massachusetts continues to lead the world in life sciences," said Governor Patrick, who led a trade mission to the U.K. last year to build on the business ties between the UK and Massachusetts. "We welcome Alacrita to the Commonwealth and look forward to working with them to create jobs and opportunities in the Commonwealth."

"We are delighted that Alacrita selected Cambridge, Massachusetts as its U.S. headquarters and welcome them to our thriving life sciences community," said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the agency charged with implementing Governor Patrick's 10-year, $1-billion Life Sciences Initiative. "Alacrita's presence will contribute to our economy and help Massachusetts companies better navigate the European market."

"I join the Governor in celebrating Alacrita's arrival in Massachusetts," said Ken Brown, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment. "Today's announcement demonstrates that the Commonwealth is a compelling destination for innovation and global business."

"I look forward to seeing Alacrita grow their business here in the Massachusetts supercluster, with the support of U.K. Trade & Investment. I hope their success will help create further channels for U.K./U.S. partnerships - our UKTI teams at the British Consulate stand ready to assist," said Susie Kitchens, the new British Consul General to New England.

"Massachusetts is home to the most innovative companies across the entire life sciences spectrum, working hand-in-hand to bring new treatments from the bench to the bedside," said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, a 600-plus-member life sciences trade association. "We are thrilled to welcome companies like Alacrita who play a very important role in our world-class life sciences ecosystem."

About Alacrita Consulting

Alacrita is a rapidly growing management consulting firm providing expertise-based services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life science sectors. The firm has an unrivalled network of experts who operate across the spectrum of life sciences. They combine extensive international industry experience (strategic, technical and commercial), broad functional capabilities and a track record of success across the industry.

Since inception, Alacrita has completed successful consulting projects for big pharma and biotech companies, life science investors and government bodies.

http://www.alacritaconsulting.com

For further information, please contact:

Alacrita:

Rob Johnson, +1-781-249-3324

Anthony Walker, +44-207-691-4915

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center:

Angus G. McQuilken, +1-617-921-7749 or [email protected]

SOURCE Alacrita Consulting