Panthera Biopartners has opened a new clinical research clinic at Keele University Science & Innovation Park at Staffordshire in the UK, expanding its clinical trial network to 11 sites across the UK and Europe.
The new facility includes bespoke clinical rooms and laboratory facilities.
The firm said it is already recruiting patients and expects to begin running clinical studies shortly.
Panthera operates as a Site Management Organisation (SMO), supporting pharma companies and CROs with patient recruitment and clinical trial delivery.
The company currently has seven sites in the UK and four in Hungary, following its acquisition of Hungary-based Óbudai Egészségügyi Centrum (OEC) in April — Panthera’s first international expansion following an investment from LDC in 2025.
The firm focuses on Phase II and Phase III clinical trials and said this new site in Keele reflects efforts to increase capacity for commercial clinical research and improve patient access to studies.
Keele as a hub for innovation
The Keele site also adds clinical trial capacity to the already-established health and life sciences ecosystem in the area.
The Keele Clinical Trials Unit supports the development and delivery of multicentre clinical trials and other health research, while the university’s Science and Innovation Park hosts more than 60 innovation-led businesses across areas including life sciences, health technologies and medtech.
In Staffordshire, University Hospitals of North Midlands reported that more than 2000 patients participated in clinical research across its sites during 2023-24, highlighting existing demand for research opportunities in the region.
Stuart Young, CEO of Panthera, said the new facility would provide people across Staffordshire and the wider region with opportunities to participate in clinical trials and potentially access investigational treatments before they become widely available through the NHS.
Being located within a leading university science and innovation environment provides exciting opportunities for collaboration, innovation and future growth, while also helping us connect more closely with local communities.
Ann Pittard, Director of Engagement and Partnerships at Keele University, said Panthera’s arrival would strengthen the university’s health and life sciences community.
Importantly, this partnership will improve access to clinical trials and cutting-edge healthcare research for people across Staffordshire and beyond, while also creating opportunities for our students, graduates and the wider regional community.
The development forms part of Keele’s broader Innovation District ambitions, which aim to build an internationally significant innovation ecosystem spanning Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and the wider Midlands.
