CROs in the Nordics

The Nordic region offers an exceptional environment for clinical research, underpinned by comprehensive universal healthcare systems and unique personal identification numbers that enable superior patient tracking and follow-up. The combined population of approximately 27 million across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland represents a well-documented, genetically homogeneous population with high participation rates in clinical trials and extensive biobank infrastructure.

The region benefits from streamlined regulatory processes through agencies like the Danish Medicines Agency (DKMA) and Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA), alongside world-class academic institutions and research hospitals. A key advantage is the extensive population-based registries and highly digitized medical records systems, which provide unprecedented access to longitudinal health data and enable efficient patient recruitment and monitoring.

The Nordic CRO landscape encompasses both specialized boutique organizations and larger full-service providers, offering sponsors access to high-quality data collection, efficient recruitment, and excellent patient retention rates. These CROs have developed particular expertise in leveraging the region's advantages, including its advanced digital health infrastructure and well-connected healthcare networks, to conduct Phase I-IV clinical trials effectively.

Here you can find a selection of emerging, medium, and large full-service Nordic-based clinical research organizations (CROs) conducting and managing Phase I-IV clinical trials, each bringing unique expertise in navigating the region's healthcare systems and regulatory requirements.

LINK Medical Research

A prominent Nordic full-service CRO with established operations across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, bringing over 25 years of experience in clinical research and medical device development. They provide comprehensive clinical development services through their strategically positioned offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Malmö, offering deep local expertise combined with international reach. The organisation delivers a complete spectrum of services including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, biostatistics, data management, medical writing, and pharmacovigilance. LINK Medical has developed particular expertise in early phase trials and medical devices, leveraging the Nordic region's advanced healthcare infrastructure and high-quality patient registries.

LINK Medical serves a diverse portfolio of clients from Nordic biotech start-ups to global pharmaceutical companies, with a strong track record in complex therapeutic areas including oncology, rare diseases, and CNS disorders. Their team comprises experienced clinical research professionals who combine scientific expertise with in-depth knowledge of Nordic regulatory requirements and healthcare systems. They specialise in providing tailored solutions that optimise clinical development pathways whilst maintaining the highest quality standards and ethical considerations, with senior-level involvement throughout project lifecycles.

TFS HealthScience

A well-established Swedish-based full-service CRO with extensive operations across Europe and North America, bringing over 25 years of experience in clinical research and drug development. Founded in Lund, Sweden, they provide comprehensive clinical development services through their network of offices, offering particular expertise in the Nordic and Baltic regions whilst maintaining global reach. The organisation delivers end-to-end services including clinical operations, project management, regulatory affairs, data management, biostatistics, and medical writing, with special focus on complex therapeutic areas including oncology, dermatology, and rare diseases.

TFS HealthScience partners with both emerging biotech companies and large pharmaceutical organisations, offering a mid-sized CRO alternative that combines the personal attention of a boutique organisation with the capabilities of a global provider. Their team includes more than 700 professionals across multiple countries who bring deep therapeutic expertise and understanding of local regulatory environments. They specialise in providing flexible, scalable solutions that support clients throughout the clinical development process, maintaining high quality standards whilst offering the agility to adapt to changing project needs.

Optimapharm

A prominent European CRO with significant operations across Central and Eastern Europe, including a strong presence in the Nordic region through strategic acquisitions (Crown CRO) and partnerships. Founded in Croatia and now operating across more than 40 countries, they provide comprehensive clinical development services with particular expertise in managing complex multi-centre trials across diverse regulatory environments. The organisation offers a full spectrum of services including clinical operations, project management, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, and data management, with special focus on oncology, infectious diseases, and central nervous system disorders.

Optimapharm serves a diverse client base ranging from biotech start-ups to global pharmaceutical companies, leveraging their unique understanding of both Western and Eastern European clinical research landscapes. Their team comprises over 350 professionals who bring extensive experience in navigating varying regulatory frameworks and healthcare systems across Europe. They specialise in efficient patient recruitment through their established site networks and maintain high quality standards whilst offering competitive pricing structures that benefit from their strategic geographical positioning.

Smerud Medical Research

A Norwegian CRO with over 30 years of experience in clinical research and particular expertise in early phase trials across the Nordic region. Based in Oslo with additional operations in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, they provide comprehensive clinical development services with a strong focus on complex therapeutic areas and challenging trial designs. The organisation delivers a full range of services including clinical operations, regulatory strategy, pharmacovigilance, biostatistics, and medical writing, with notable expertise in rare diseases, oncology, and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).

Smerud serves both local Nordic biotechnology companies and international pharmaceutical organisations, offering specialised knowledge of the Nordic healthcare environment combined with international standards of operation. Their team of experienced professionals brings deep understanding of the region's regulatory requirements and healthcare systems, while maintaining strong relationships with key opinion leaders and research centres across Scandinavia. They specialise in providing highly personalised service with senior management involvement throughout project lifecycles, particularly excelling in early phase trials and cases requiring complex scientific and regulatory solutions.

Clinical Trial Consultants (CTC)

A specialised Swedish CRO with particular expertise in early phase clinical trials and a state-of-the-art Phase I unit in Uppsala Science Park. Founded in 2011, they provide comprehensive early phase clinical development services with strong connections to Uppsala University Hospital and the broader Swedish academic research community. The organisation offers a complete range of services including clinical trial design, protocol development, regulatory support, and trial execution, with special focus on First-in-Human studies, clinical pharmacology, and proof-of-concept trials.

CTC serves a diverse client base from emerging biotech companies to global pharmaceutical organisations, leveraging their purpose-built Phase I unit and extensive network within the Swedish healthcare system. Their team comprises experienced clinical research professionals who combine scientific expertise with practical knowledge of early phase trial requirements and regulatory frameworks. They specialise in conducting complex early phase studies, including adaptive trial designs and studies in patient populations, while maintaining close collaboration with sponsors and ensuring rapid study start-up times through their established relationships with Swedish regulatory authorities.

IRW Consulting

A Swedish-based CRO with over 20 years of experience in clinical research and strong operational presence across the Nordic countries. Headquartered in Stockholm with additional offices in Denmark and Norway, they provide comprehensive clinical development services with particular expertise in managing trials across Scandinavia. The organisation delivers a full spectrum of services including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, data management, biostatistics, and medical writing, with special focus on Phase II-IV trials across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular disease, and immunology.

IRW Consulting works with both Nordic and international pharmaceutical and biotech companies, offering in-depth knowledge of local regulatory requirements and healthcare systems combined with international quality standards. Their team of experienced professionals brings extensive expertise in navigating the Nordic clinical research landscape, with established relationships across key research sites and institutions. They specialise in providing personalised service with high senior staff involvement, offering flexible solutions that can be scaled according to project needs while maintaining consistent quality and operational excellence.

SanaClis

SanaClis is a CRO with significant operations across the Nordic region as part of the broader SanaClis group, which brings over 20 years of experience in clinical research across Europe. With reach across Scandinavia, they provide comprehensive clinical development services with particular expertise in managing trials that bridge Central and Northern European markets. The organisation offers a complete range of services including clinical operations, project management, regulatory affairs, and clinical supply management, with special focus on oncology, rare diseases, and medical device trials.

SanaClis Nordic serves a diverse client base ranging from regional biotech companies to global pharmaceutical organisations, leveraging their unique position as a bridge between Nordic excellence in clinical research and broader European markets. Their team combines local Nordic expertise with international trial management experience, offering sponsors access to both established Nordic research centres and broader European networks. They specialise in providing integrated clinical trial solutions that include clinical supplies and depot services alongside traditional CRO services, offering sponsors a streamlined approach to trial management across multiple European regions.

Scandinavian CRO

A Nordic-based CRO with strategic operations across Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, bringing extensive experience in clinical research within the Scandinavian healthcare environment. Headquartered in Sweden, they provide comprehensive clinical development services with particular focus on leveraging the region's advanced healthcare infrastructure and high-quality patient registries. The organisation offers a complete range of services including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, data management, and medical writing, with special expertise in managing trials that require deep understanding of Nordic regulatory requirements and healthcare systems.

Scandinavian CRO partners with both local and international sponsors, specialising in providing access to the Nordic region's high-quality research environment and efficient patient recruitment capabilities. Their team brings extensive experience in navigating the unique advantages of conducting clinical trials in Scandinavia, including access to well-documented patient populations and established research networks. They specialise in delivering personalised service with strong local presence and expertise, maintaining close relationships with key research sites and investigators across the Nordic countries while ensuring consistent quality standards and regulatory compliance.

KLIFO

A leading international CRO and drug development consultancy, established in 1994 with significant operations across the Nordic countries and Western Europe. Headquartered in Copenhagen with additional offices in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, they provide comprehensive development services spanning clinical research, regulatory affairs, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls), and drug development consultancy. The organisation offers integrated solutions across the full development value chain, with particular expertise in strategic development consulting, clinical trial management, and regulatory strategy, specialising in complex projects including advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and orphan drugs.

KLIFO serves a diverse client base from emerging biotech companies to established pharmaceutical organisations, offering a unique combination of strategic consultancy and operational CRO services. Their team comprises highly experienced professionals including former regulatory agency employees and industry experts, bringing deep understanding of both strategic drug development and practical trial execution. They specialise in providing tailored solutions that span from early development strategy through to clinical trial completion, maintaining high quality standards while offering the flexibility and personal attention characteristic of a specialised European organisation.

IQVIA

A global leader in CRO services with substantial operations across the Nordic region, particularly in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Formed through the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles in 2016, they bring over 40 years of experience in clinical research and healthcare intelligence to the Nordic market. The organisation provides comprehensive clinical development services through their network of Nordic offices, leveraging the region's advanced healthcare infrastructure, extensive patient registries, and high-quality data collection systems. Their services encompass clinical operations, project management, regulatory affairs, data management, biostatistics, and real-world evidence generation, supported by their proprietary technology platforms and analytics capabilities.

IQVIA's Nordic presence enables both local and global sponsors to access the region's unique advantages, including its highly organised healthcare systems, technologically advanced research environment, and well-documented patient populations. Their team combines deep local expertise with global resources, offering particular strength in complex therapeutic areas including oncology, rare diseases, and neurology. They specialise in integrating real-world evidence with clinical research, leveraging the Nordic countries' comprehensive healthcare databases and registries to accelerate drug development and enhance evidence generation. The organisation maintains strong relationships with key research institutions and investigators across the region, while offering sponsors access to their global network spanning more than 100 countries.

Parexel

A leading global CRO with significant operations across the Nordic region, particularly through their established presence in Sweden and Denmark. With over 40 years of international experience, they provide comprehensive clinical development services throughout Scandinavia, leveraging the region's sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and extensive patient databases. The organisation delivers a complete range of services including clinical operations, regulatory consulting, biostatistics, data management, and medical writing, with particular expertise in complex therapeutic areas including oncology, rare diseases, and cell and gene therapies.

Parexel's Nordic operations serve both regional and global sponsors, combining local expertise with their worldwide network that spans more than 80 countries. Their team brings extensive experience in navigating the Nordic research environment, including strong relationships with key opinion leaders, research institutions, and regulatory authorities across the region. They specialise in leveraging innovative technologies and decentralised trial approaches while maintaining high-quality standards and efficient study delivery, offering sponsors access to the region's high-performing research sites and well-documented patient populations through their established site networks and partnerships.