What CRS Clinical Research Services does

CRS Clinical Research Services is a Mannheim, Germany-based early-phase clinical research organization founded in 1977 with approximately 111 employees. The company historically provided early-phase clinical pharmacology services, Phase I trials, and volunteer recruitment in Germany through its Probandeninfo platform. In January 2025, CRS was acquired by hVIVO and is now integrated as a wholly-owned subsidiary within the unified hVIVO brand.

As part of the hVIVO Group, CRS contributes German clinical research facilities and a dedicated recruitment infrastructure to a broader platform that delivers integrated clinical development services spanning preclinical consultancy through Phase III trials. The combined platform's core offerings include Clinical Trial Solutions (Phase I-III delivery), Human Challenge Solutions (proprietary models for RSV, Influenza, COVID-19, HRV, hMPV, Malaria, and Asthma/COPD), Laboratory Solutions (bioanalysis, virology, immunology, biomarkers, PBMC processing, with CL3 capability), Drug Development Consulting (regulatory affairs, PK/PD, CMC, due diligence), and HTA-licensed Biobank/Storage Solutions. Purpose-built quarantine facilities and the 400,000+ participant volunteer database accessible via FluCamp (UK) and Probandeninfo (Germany) underpin the recruitment advantage.

The business operates as a fee-for-service, project-based CRO targeting four customer segments: global pharmaceutical companies (primary), biotechnology companies (primary), CROs seeking capability extension, and life sciences start-ups. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per study. Distribution is exclusively through direct enterprise sales and consultancy-led engagement, with no indirect channels. The parent hVIVO entity is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange AIM Market under ticker HVO, providing CRS with capital access and public-market visibility, though CRS itself no longer operates as an independent commercial brand.

Name

CRS Clinical Research Services

Legal name

hVIVO Services Limited

Website

https://crs-earlyphase.com

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CRS Clinical Research Services is a Mannheim-based early-phase CRO founded in 1977, now integrated into the publicly-traded hVIVO Group following its January 2025 acquisition. It contributes German clinical facilities, the Probandeninfo volunteer recruitment platform, and early-phase clinical pharmacology capabilities to hVIVO's integrated clinical development platform serving global pharma, biotech, CROs, and start-ups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Central Laboratory & Clinical Trial Testing CROs (HLAGAAAE), Patient Recruitment, Site Feasibility & Trial Enablement CROs (HLAGAAAI)

Keywords

• Clinical research services
• Human challenge trials
• Drug development consulting
• Clinical trial delivery
• Biobanking and storage

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Clinical Trial Services: Fee-for-service clinical research services spanning Phase I through Phase III trials. Revenue generated through project-based contracts for clinical trial delivery, including early-phase clinical pharmacology, patient studies, and complex trial designs.
2. Laboratory Services: Comprehensive laboratory services including bioanalysis, virology, immunology, biomarker analysis, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, and sample processing. Revenue generated through standalone lab service contracts or integrated with clinical trial delivery.
3. Drug Development Consulting: Strategic and scientific consultancy services including regulatory affairs, clinical pharmacology, PK/PD, CMC consulting, due diligence, and investor readiness. Delivered as standalone engagements or bundled with clinical services.
4. Human Challenge Trials: Specialist human challenge trial services generating early efficacy data for vaccines and therapeutics. Premium-priced specialized service leveraging proprietary models and purpose-built facilities.
5. Biobanking and Storage: Cryostorage and biobanking services for biological samples and clinical materials, provided as standalone services or integrated with laboratory and clinical operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CRS Clinical Research Services provides Phase I–III clinical trial delivery, drug development consulting, human challenge trials (RSV, Influenza, COVID-19, HRV, hMPV, Malaria, Asthma/COPD), advanced laboratory services (bioanalysis, virology, immunology, biomarkers), and HTA-licensed biobanking and cryostorage services. Operating as part of the unified hVIVO brand following its January 2025 acquisition, CRS anchors the German clinical research infrastructure, with Probandeninfo recruitment platform supporting access to a 400,000+ volunteer database across Europe.

Product overview

hVIVO operates as a unified platform combining clinical trial delivery, specialist laboratories, consultancy, and world-leading human challenge trial services. The integrated product portfolio includes: Clinical Trial Solutions (Phase I-III delivery), Drug Development Consulting, Human Challenge Solutions (with specific disease models for RSV, Influenza, COVID-19, HRV, hMPV, Malaria, and Asthma/COPD), Laboratory Solutions (bioanalysis, virology, immunology, biomarkers), Integrated Solutions (Speed to Clinic Accelerator, Investor Readiness, Translational Consulting), and Biobank/Storage Solutions (HTA-licensed cryostorage). The company also operates recruitment platforms FluCamp (UK) and Probandeninfo (Germany), providing access to a 400k+ volunteer database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FluCamp: UK-based participant recruitment platform for clinical trials, part of the hVIVO integrated service offering.
• Probandeninfo

Products and services

• Clinical Trial Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,900+ clinical trials delivered successfully across multiple phases and therapeutic areas
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Parexel International: Large global CRO offering Phase I–IV clinical development, consulting, and laboratory services; competes directly with hVIVO's full-service clinical delivery and consulting offerings for pharma and biotech sponsors.
• IQVIA: Global full-service CRO and clinical research services provider; competes with hVIVO on Phase I–III delivery and laboratory services, though IQVIA operates at vastly larger scale and across all therapeutic areas rather than specializing in human challenge trials.
• Syneos Health: Global biopharmaceutical solutions organization combining CRO and commercial services; overlaps with hVIVO on clinical trial delivery and biopharma consulting.
• Charles River Laboratories: Established CRO providing preclinical and clinical laboratory services including bioanalysis; comparable in early-phase and laboratory capabilities, though its portfolio is broader and not focused on infectious disease challenge trials.
• ICON plc: Major global CRO offering clinical trial, laboratory, and consulting services across all therapeutic areas; a comparable large-scale clinical delivery competitor though without hVIVO's specialty in human challenge trial models.
• Medpace: Mid-to-large CRO focused on full-service clinical development for pharma and biotech; comparable business model to hVIVO's clinical trial delivery though without human-challenge specialization.

Emerging players

• Frontage Laboratories: Contract research and bioanalytical laboratory services firm offering early-phase clinical and lab capabilities; an emerging peer with partial overlap to hVIVO's laboratory and early clinical services.

Direct peers

• Worldwide Clinical Trials: Mid-sized global CRO offering Phase I–III clinical development with therapeutic-area specialty; a closer peer to hVIVO in scale and breadth of clinical and laboratory services for biotech and pharma.
• Celerion: Early-phase clinical research organization specializing in clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical services; the closest direct peer to hVIVO's Phase I units, early-phase delivery, and laboratory capabilities.
• SGS Life Sciences: Contract clinical research and bioanalytical laboratory services provider; comparable to hVIVO in clinical and central laboratory capabilities, with overlapping Phase I–III offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crs-clinical-research-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

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 CRS Clinical Research Services