ABE Capital Partners (“ABE”) and Columbus Venture Partners (“Columbus”) have reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Sermes CRO (“Sermes”), a Spanish contract research organization (CRO) specializing in end-to-end management of clinical trials and associated services, with a strong focus on operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation.
The entry of ABE and Columbus as majority partners aims to accelerate Sermes’ growth plan, strengthening its position as a preferred partner for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as independent research institutions, while expanding its reach into international markets. This next phase will continue to rely on the Sermes team, which has long-standing recognized capabilities in its specialty and has recently reinforced its expertise with a focus on digital innovation.
With 29 years of experience, Sermes supports clients throughout the entire clinical development cycle, from early phases to post-marketing studies, providing full-service CRO offerings and specialized support in areas such as CTIS and European clinical trial regulation, advanced therapies, biostatistics and data management, pharmacovigilance, and technological and advanced analytics solutions, including data science/Big Data initiatives in health and trial documentation tools.
Sermes is headquartered in Madrid and serves national and international clients through a global footprint covering Europe, the U.S., and Latin America.
Antonio Berlanga, Executive Chairman and founder of Sermes, said: “The entry of ABE and Columbus into our shareholder base represents a decisive boost for our next stage. We aim to accelerate our international expansion and continue investing in differentiating capabilities—especially in regulation, advanced therapies, and technology—while maintaining our commitment to quality, regulatory compliance, and on-time delivery.”
Manuel Blanco, Partner at ABE Capital Partners, highlighted: “Sermes brings together key attributes to build a major European operator in clinical research services: an integrated value proposition, a recognized management team and capabilities in its niche, and a clear ambition for growth and innovation. Our goal is to support the team with a strategy that combines organic growth and selective expansion initiatives.”
Damià Tormo, General Partner at Columbus Venture Partners, added: “We share with Sermes the belief that the future of healthcare is built on innovation, knowledge, and committed investment. Our approach is to support platforms that enable high-impact biomedical research, and Sermes fits perfectly within that vision.”
Sermes was advised by JB Capital and Cuatrecasas on financial and legal matters. ABE Capital Partners and Columbus Venture Partners were advised by Beka M&A (financial) and Fieldfisher and VC Bio Law (legal).
About Sermes CRO
Sermes CRO is a Spanish contract research organization (CRO) with 29 years of experience, dedicated to optimizing clinical research processes for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as independent research institutions. It provides full-service CRO solutions, expertise in CTIS and European regulation, advanced therapies, and technological and advanced analytics applied to clinical research.
About ABE Capital Partners
ABE Capital Partners is a Spanish private equity firm focused on investing in small and medium-sized enterprises with growth potential. It specializes in sectors such as technology, sustainability, and health & wellness, acting as a strategic partner in the development and growth plans of its portfolio companies.
About Columbus Venture Partners
Columbus Venture Partners is a Spanish venture capital firm (Valencia, 2016) specializing in biotechnology and life sciences. With a differentiated investment model and a strong track record in building industrial platforms for advanced therapies, Columbus Venture Partners actively participates in the creation and growth of more than 80% of its portfolio companies
cloud technology axon
Xcalibur Smart Mapping, recognised as the global leader in airborne...
