Lexitas Pharma Services announced the acquisition of Erie Retina Research, along with affiliated organizations CASExERIE and Element Erie: Imaging & Reading Center PLLC, expanding the company’s capabilities in vitreoretinal clinical trials, surgical innovation, and ophthalmic image analysis. Under the agreement, Erie Retina Research will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Lexitas Pharma Services. David R.P. Almeida, MD, MBA, PhD, president and CEO of Erie Retina Research and founder of CASExERIE, will become Lexitas Pharma’s chief retina strategy officer.

“We are thrilled to join Lexitas and help shape the future of retina research,” said Dr. Almeida. “Together, we are creating a coordinated, world-class retina research engine that brings together scientific expertise, operational excellence, and the infrastructure needed to deliver for sponsors and patients. This collaboration empowers us to broaden our impact and enhance the way we serve patients and sponsors.”

According to a press release, the combined structure is intended to create a more integrated retina clinical research platform spanning trial operations, patient recruitment, protocol development, surgical training, and centralized image grading. Lexitas said the addition of Element Erie strengthens its reading center operations through expanded imaging data sets and retinal image interpretation expertise.

Erie Retina Research, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, has conducted more than 40 active clinical trials and has participated in multiple first-patient-in studies since its founding in 2019. CASExERIE focuses on retina-focused product development, surgical training, and device evaluation.

Lexitas, a portfolio company of QHP Capital, said the acquisition is aimed at supporting increasing demand for retina clinical trials as development activity continues to expand across pharmaceutical, gene therapy, and device programs. RP