CECOG

What CECOG does

CECOG (Central European Cooperative Oncology Group) is a Vienna-based non-profit academic clinical research organization founded in 1999 to harmonize cancer treatment standards across Western, Central, and Southeastern Europe. The organization operates three interconnected pillars: Clinical Trials Services (full-service Phase I-III CRO support including scientific advice, study design, site selection, monitoring, data management, and biostatistics across a network of 150 academic sites in 23 countries); CECOG Academy (post-graduate medical education launched in 2017, organizing CME-accredited disease-specific academies for pancreas, breast, thoracic, colon, glioma, and skin cancers, with approximately 3,000 participants from 50 countries); and the GOIA Governmental Affairs initiative, a multi-stakeholder platform engaging the European Parliament, IAEA, OECD, and patient advocates to improve access to state-of-the-art cancer diagnostics and treatments in the CEE region.

CECOG operates as a cooperative academic network rather than a technology company. Its core operational asset is the 150-site academic network spanning 23 countries, with quality assurance certified through documented regulatory inspections (FDA, Hungarian MoH, Israeli MoH, AGES Austria) and industry audits (Eli Lilly, Novartis, Merck, GEICAM). The organization publishes research in peer-reviewed journals (49 publications cited) and runs 56 scientific and educational meetings annually across 9 countries. Educational event sponsors include Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, and Servier; strategic partnerships include the Romanian national oncology society SNOMR for joint thoracic cancer education, and European Parliament members, IAEA, OECD representatives, and patient advocates under the GOIA initiative.

The organization's revenue model is structured around professional services for pharma and biotech clinical trial sponsors, supplemented by educational event sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies in the form of unrestricted grants. Academy events charge only a €30 commitment fee to participants, with travel reimbursement up to €300 and accommodation often covered, indicating the educational program is primarily a relationship-building and sponsored platform rather than a revenue-generating product. As a non-profit, CECOG reinvests into its mission of harmonizing cancer treatment standards and conducting clinical research, with no disclosed funding rounds, ownership structure, or financial figures.

Name

CECOG

Legal name

Central European Cooperative Oncology Group

Website

https://cecog.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CECOG is a Vienna-based non-profit academic oncology research organization founded in 1999 that conducts Phase I-III clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors across 150 academic sites in 23 countries, while running CME-accredited medical education academies and a governmental affairs initiative focused on Central and Southeastern Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGAAAE

Central Laboratory & Clinical Trial Testing CROs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Contract Research Organizations (CRO)

SECONDARYHLAGACAE

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Clinical Trial Services & Site Management (SMO)

SECONDARYHLAGAKAA

Regulatory Strategy & Global Submissions (IND/CTA/NDA/BLA/MAA)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Regulatory Affairs, Quality & Compliance Services (GxP)

SECONDARYHLAKAFAB

Medical Oncology

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Hematology & Oncology

Keywords

• Oncology clinical trials
• Clinical research organization
• Cancer treatment research
• Medical education programs
• Pharmaceutical trial services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Trial Services: CECOG provides comprehensive clinical trial services (phase I-III) to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including scientific advice, study design, site selection, monitoring, data management, and biostatistics. As a non-profit organization, revenue supports their mission of harmonizing cancer treatment standards.
2. Educational Event Sponsorships: CECOG Academy events receive sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies (Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Servier) in the form of unrestricted educational grants and direct sponsorships. These sponsorships support CME-accredited oncology education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CECOG conducts Phase I-III oncology clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors across Central and Southeastern Europe through a network of more than 150 academic sites in 23 countries, delivering study design, site selection, monitoring, data management, and biostatistics. It also runs the CECOG Academy, providing CME-accredited postgraduate medical education through disease-specific academies covering pancreas, breast, thoracic, colon, glioma, and skin cancers, and leads the GOIA governmental affairs initiative to improve access to cancer diagnostics and treatments in the region.

Product overview

CECOG is a non-profit clinical research organization conducting phase I-III clinical trials for cancer treatments across 23 countries in Central and Southeastern Europe. The organization operates three interconnected offerings: Clinical Trials Services (full-service CRO support including study design, site selection, logistics, and biostatistics), CECOG Academy (postgraduate medical education in oncology with disease-specific academies for pancreas, breast, thoracic, colon, glioma, and skin cancers), and GOIA (government affairs initiative for improving access to cancer diagnostics and treatments). The Academy programs are EACCME-accredited and have engaged approximately 3,000 participants from 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GOIA: Governmental Affairs initiative aimed at availability and access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and cancer medications in Central and Southeastern Europe.
• CECOG Academy

Products and services

• Clinical Trials Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 years providing clinical trial support to pharma and biotech industries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SNOMR (Societatea Națională de Oncologie Medicală din România)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of the CECOG-SNOMR Thoracic Cancers Academy. Romanian national oncology society collaborating with CECOG on educational events in Bucharest.
• Eli Lilly and CompanyminorOthersProvided unrestricted educational grant for the 5th Breast Cancer Academy.
• Gilead Sciences GesmbHminorOthersProvided educational grant supporting the 5th Breast Cancer Academy.
• SERVIERminorOthersGold sponsor of the 4th Colon Cancer Academy and sponsor of the 10th Pancreas and Cholangiocellular Cancers Academy.
• European Parliament RepresentativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOIA initiative includes members of the European Parliament alongside oncologists, nursing specialists, patient advocates, IAEA and OECD representatives, and NGOs to address health inequalities in cancer care.
• IAEA and OECD RepresentativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organizations participating in GOIA governmental affairs initiative for cancer care access in CEE.
• Patient Advocates and NGOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOIA initiative includes patient advocates and non-governmental organizations focused on cancer care access.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Parexel International: Parexel is a large global CRO with strong oncology franchise and CEE presence. Like IQVIA and ICON, it competes for sponsor trial placements in the same geographies where CECOG operates.
• IQVIA: IQVIA is the world's largest CRO with a global site network. It competes with CECOG for pharma oncology trial work but serves a much broader portfolio across all therapeutic areas and geographies.
• ICON plc (including PRA Health Sciences): ICON is a top-3 global CRO with extensive oncology portfolio and Central/Eastern European operations. It competes with CECOG for CEE-based oncology trials but as a broad incumbent rather than an academic specialist.
• Medpace: Medpace is a mid-to-large CRO with oncology expertise and growing European footprint. It serves pharma/biotech sponsors needing full-service trial execution similar to CECOG's offering.
• Worldwide Clinical Trials: Worldwide Clinical Trials is a mid-sized CRO with strong oncology credentials and European operations. It overlaps with CECOG's CRO services for biotech and pharma sponsors.

Emerging players

• BELONG (Beating Lung Cancer Together): BELONG is a digital oncology platform engaging patients and clinical trial matching. Compared to CECOG's academic-network model, it represents a tech-enabled emerging alternative for trial recruitment that could compete for sponsor attention.

Direct peers

• European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): EORTC is a non-profit academic clinical research organization running oncology trials across Europe, making it the closest mission-aligned peer to CECOG. Both operate cooperative group trial networks with pharma sponsor engagement.
• GEICAM (Spanish Breast Cancer Group): GEICAM is a Spanish academic oncology research group that has conducted site audits at CECOG's network. Both are cooperative oncology groups running breast cancer trials and education across their respective European regions.

Regional players

• SNOMR (Romanian National Society of Medical Oncology): SNOMR is a national oncology society that co-organizes the CECOG Thoracic Cancers Academy in Romania. It represents a regional peer with similar CME and clinical trial coordination missions focused on a single CEE country.

Others

• ECRIN (European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network): ECRIN is a non-profit European infrastructure supporting multinational clinical trials. While not a sponsor-facing CRO, it is a peer in the academic clinical trial ecosystem and a potential partner or alternative for sponsors seeking EU trial capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cecogacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/cecogacademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/271056486858400

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 CECOG