Cmax Clinical Research

What Cmax Clinical Research does

CMAX Clinical Research is an Australian early-phase clinical trial facility headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1993, the company operates a custom-built 78-bed inpatient clinic together with a 14-bed screening and outpatient unit, three PC2-certified processing laboratories, ambulatory cardiac telemetry, secure pharmacy rooms, and an eight-bed low-acoustic suite — purpose-built infrastructure for first-in-human (FTIH), single-ascending-dose (SAD), multiple-ascending-dose (MAD), bioequivalence, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies. CMAX sits inside Adelaide's BioMed City precinct opposite the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with established relationships to local universities, research institutes, and imaging providers for biomarker and diagnostic support. The organization reports more than 400 professionals and 800+ early-phase trials completed across diverse therapeutic areas.

The company is US FDA audited, ICH GCP compliant, and its studies meet the registration requirements of the EMA, Japan's PMDA, NMPA, and Health Canada. Sponsors benefit from Australia's Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) pathway (avoiding IND filings, with HREC approval typically within six weeks) and eligibility for the Australian R&D Tax Incentive of up to 43.5% on qualifying spend. More than 90% of trials are run for international sponsors across the USA, China, Europe, South Korea, and Japan. A 71,000+ healthy volunteer database and a self-serve online registration portal support participant recruitment, alongside a tiered refer-a-friend program.

CMAX generates revenue through contracted, customized study fees from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and (via the Fusion division) digital health sponsors. The go-to-market model combines a dedicated Business Development team with senior Clinical Project Managers, attendance at national and international industry events, and an in-house marketing and participant engagement function for recruitment. In 2020, CMAX established Fusion Clinical Research as a wholly-owned division extending services into Phase II-III domestic trials via GP and specialist networks. In 2025, CMAX and Fusion were acquired by New Zealand Clinical Research (NZCR Group), forming a trans-Tasman network with 150+ combined trial beds and a recruitment population of approximately 30 million. Founder Jane Kelly continues as CEO. The company reported 20% revenue growth in 2025 and won the Australian National Professional Services Export Award and the SA Premier's Professional Services Export Award.

Name

Cmax Clinical Research

Legal name

CMAX Clinical Research Pty Ltd

Website

https://cmax.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CMAX Clinical Research, founded 1993 in Adelaide, is one of Australia's longest-established independent early-phase (Phase I-II) clinical trial facilities, operating a 78-bed inpatient clinic and conducting first-in-human, SAD/MAD, bioequivalence, and PK/PD studies for international pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and digital health sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE)

Keywords

• Early-phase clinical trials
• Phase I clinical research
• First-in-human studies
• Clinical trial services
• Bioequivalence studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Trial Services for Sponsors: CMAX conducts early-phase clinical trials (Phase I-II) for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and digital health companies. Revenue is generated through contracted study fees based on trial complexity, duration, and scope. With over 90% of trials conducted for international sponsors, the company delivers internationally-approved data meeting global regulatory requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMAX Clinical Research operates a 78-bed purpose-built early-phase clinical trial facility in Adelaide, Australia, conducting Phase I and II clinical trials and first-in-human (FTIH) studies for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and digital health sponsors. The company also delivers single-ascending dose (SAD) and multiple-ascending dose (MAD) studies, food-effect, bioequivalence, and PK/PD studies. Its domestic Phase II-III arm, Fusion Clinical Research, extends reach through a network of GPs, specialists, and patient populations.

Product overview

CMAX Clinical Research is a single, unified clinical trial service offering early-phase clinical research services. The core offering is CMAX's 78-bed clinical trial facility conducting Phase I-II and first-in-human (FTIH) studies across diverse therapeutic areas. A subsidiary division, Fusion Clinical Research (founded 2020), extends reach into Phase II-III studies through a network of GPs and specialists. Both entities were acquired in 2025 by parent company NZCR Group, which now operates the combined trans-Tasman network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fusion Clinical Research: A division of CMAX offering Phase II-III clinical trial services, connecting pharmaceutical, biotech, digital health and clinical research organisations with GPs, specialists and patients for domestic clinical trial research.

Products and services

• CMAX Clinical Research (Early-Phase Trial Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• HREC approval typically occurs within six weeks of submission
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• New Zealand Clinical Research (NZCR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, CMAX and Fusion were acquired by New Zealand Clinical Research. The acquisition brought four clinical research companies together under one trans-Tasman organisation, significantly expanding breadth of capability across the region. NZCR Group now has capacity of more than 150 trial beds and extensive specialisations for both early and later phase trials.
• Fusion Clinical ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founded in 2020, Fusion Clinical Research is a division of CMAX. It connects pharmaceutical, biotech, digital health and clinical research organisations with a trusted network of general practitioners (GPs), specialists and patients for clinical trial research in domestic settings.
• Health Industries South AustraliasupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency providing support and accessibility for companies like InCarda expanding R&D in Australia. Very accessible and ready to help smaller companies.
• BioMed City Adelaide InstitutionssupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMAX has long-established relationships with medical specialists across BioMed City institutions including Royal Adelaide Hospital, universities, research institutes and imaging providers. This provides access to comprehensive diagnostic laboratory and biomarker testing services.
• Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)supportiveOthersStudies are initiated on local HREC approval which typically occurs within six weeks of submission. HREC comprises medical professionals, community and lay people who sanction clinical trial safety.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Novotech: Australia-headquartered CRO specializing in early-to-late phase clinical trials across Asia-Pacific. Comparable as a regional early-phase specialist leveraging Australian regulatory and demographic advantages, competing for the same international biotech sponsor base.
• Celerion: Specialized early-phase clinical research organization with extensive FTIH, SAD/MAD, and PK/PD capabilities across US and UK sites. Directly comparable to CMAX as a Phase I-dedicated CRO serving pharma and biotech sponsors globally.
• Quotient Sciences: UK/US-based CRO focused on early-phase clinical trials and integrated drug development. Comparable as a specialized FTIH/formulation service provider for international pharma sponsors with similar translational development offerings.
• Richmond Pharmacology: UK-based clinical research organization specializing in FTIH and early-phase clinical trials. Comparable as a specialized Phase I unit for international sponsors, offering similar SAD/MAD and experimental medicine capabilities.
• Optimal Clinical Research: New Zealand-based clinical research organization that, along with CMAX and Fusion, was consolidated into the NZCR Group in 2025. Operates as a sister entity providing comparable early-phase services in a complementary geography under shared ownership.

Regional players

• Linear Clinical Research: Perth, Australia-based early-phase clinical trial facility operating Phase I unit. Comparable as an Australian Phase I competitor leveraging similar regulatory and tax incentives, though smaller in bed capacity.
• Clinical Network Services (CNS): Australia-based CRO offering clinical trial services and bioanalytical laboratory support. Comparable as an Australian regional early-phase services competitor leveraging similar R&D Tax Incentive positioning.

Broad incumbents

• ICON plc: One of the world's largest CROs offering full-service Phase I-IV clinical research. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same sponsor pipeline but with substantially larger scale, geographic reach, and integrated service offerings.
• Syneos Health: Global biopharmaceutical solutions organization providing clinical development and commercial services. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering Phase I-III services to pharma/biotech, including early-phase trial execution across multiple geographies.
• Parexel International: Global CRO with deep early-phase and FTIH capabilities across multiple continents. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing early-phase services that compete with CMAX for international biotech and pharma trial placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CMAXClinicalResearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmax-clinical-research-pty-ltd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cmax Clinical Research