MILAN, Italy, January 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Phidea S.r.l. a full service and leading clinical research organization (CRO), today announced that it has completed the merger with Marvin Research S.r.l., a CRO focused on Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080122/335477 )

The new company will be named Phidea Marvin S.r.l. and have legal and operating offices in Milan, Italy. The combined company will also continue to operate its offices in Madrid, Spain providing drug development services to companies in need of a single source for clinical research including design and management of pan-European clinical trials (Phase I - III), and post marketing studies (Phase IV). Services offered by the new company will include all aspects of the clinical trial process including: protocol design, regulatory affairs, site selection, clinical monitoring, data management, statistical analysis and medical writing. Observational and epidemiological studies will also continue to be performed.

Phidea Marvin specializes in cardiovascular, CNS, gastroenterology oncology, rheumatology and anti-infective studies and services a broad range of multinational pharmaceutical firms.

Vincenzo Cocuzza, M.D., Phidea-Marvin's Chief Executive Officer stated, We believe that this combination broadens our client base even further then it was, and provides the necessary platform for growth. We have a compelling strategy to expand operations into global markets and especially the United States and will continue to look for strategic opportunities that allow us to realize our goals. The merger with Marvin moves us closer to our objectives by:

- Adding a partner with a strong market position and reputation in specific therapeutic areas - Adding additional multinational customers - Reducing costs - Increasing the overall size of the organization to allow even larger studies to be performed.

We also believe that the Marvin and Phidea teams have built an impressive portfolio of accomplishments and will work together to become a leader in the CRO sector.

About Phidea S.r.l.

Phidea S.r.l. specializes in international clinical research. The firm was founded in 1982 in Milan, Italy. In 1991 it expanded its operations and organized its Spanish subsidiary, Phidea Spain, in Madrid, Spain. The firm and partners provide a complete range of services to pharmaceutical companies including product formulation, stability, clinical trial material manufacturing, and all phases of clinical research.

Staffed with renown scientist and medical doctors, Phidea services major pharmaceutical companies seeking premium research in the European Union.

About Marvin Research S.r.l.

Marvin Research was founded in January 1999 by Vincenzo Maresca, M.D., with a team of experts from several CROs. Based in Milan, Italy, the firm focuses on Phase I through Phase IV human clinical trials for multinational pharmaceutical companies. Marvin Research's services span the entire clinical program including preparation of protocols by medical experts, all aspects of monitoring and performance of the trial, and finally statistics and report generation.

Phidea Marvin Management Team. Vincenzo Cocuzza, Chairman and CEO Vincenzo Maresca, Managing Director Aldo Cocuzza, Managing Director For more information regarding Phidea Marvin S.r.l. contact: Mr. Aldo Cocuzza, Director, +39-3939189389 or email at aldo.cocuzza@phideamarvin.com Phidea-Marvin S.r.l. International Clinical Research Via Cristoforo Colombo, 1. Corsico (Milan, Italy)

For more information regarding Phidea Marvin S.r.l. contact: Mr. Aldo Cocuzza, Director, +39-3939189389 or email at aldo.cocuzza@phideamarvin.com .