GCCL, a South Korea-based leader in clinical trial sample analysis, and OPIS, a global full-service contract research organization (CRO), have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration and enhance their footprint in the global clinical trial market. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 44th Annual J P Morgan Healthcare Conference 2026 in San Francisco.

As multinational clinical trials continue to grow, biopharmaceutical sponsors are increasingly challenged by diverse regulatory frameworks, regional clinical practices, and complex data requirements. Through this partnership, GCCL and OPIS aim to address these challenges by combining their complementary strengths to deliver integrated, customized clinical trial solutions, particularly for sponsors operating across Europe and Asia.

Under the MoU, both companies plan to establish a collaborative framework covering joint global clinical trial services, co-execution of projects, development of new business opportunities, and additional strategic initiatives. The collaboration is expected to enhance clinical trial planning, sample analysis, and data management, offering sponsors a more seamless and efficient trial execution model.

For GCCL, the partnership aligns with its strategy to expand relationships with global CROs and research organizations while strengthening its ability to deliver end-to-end clinical trial solutions across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The collaboration will also enable the company to extend more tailored services to a broader spectrum of biopharmaceutical clients.

Giovanni Trolese, vice president at OPIS, said the partnership brings together OPIS’s Europe-centric global network and GCCL’s specialized clinical trial analysis expertise, creating new opportunities to deliver efficient and integrated services to sponsors. He added that the collaboration would support the continued expansion of a global clinical trial ecosystem focused on innovation and client needs.

KwanGoo Cho, CEO of GCCL, described the MoU as a strategic collaboration rather than a conventional partnership, aimed at optimizing clinical trial operations for global biopharmaceutical companies. By working closely together, he noted, both organizations intend to enhance operational efficiency, provide customized solutions, and generate meaningful business synergies.

GCCL, a subsidiary of GC Group, provides an integrated one-stop laboratory solution encompassing central labs, bioanalysis, and BSL-3 facilities under a unified system. The company supports all phases of clinical trials with advanced analytical platforms and laboratory information management systems (LIMS), serving partners across Asia and international markets.

Founded in 1998, OPIS is a global CRO with over two decades of experience across multiple therapeutic areas. The company offers comprehensive clinical trial services, from study design and protocol development through project execution, data management, analysis, and final reporting, supporting sponsors throughout the full clinical development lifecycle.