Celerion, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based global leader in clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical sciences, has announced a majority investment from THL Partners, a private equity firm focused on middle-market growth companies. The investment will support Celerion’s continued growth, including expanding its clinical and bioanalytical capabilities and advancing its work helping pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners bring new therapies to patients. The transaction is expected to close in 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, and will be made through THL’s flagship Fund IX.
Founded by Dr. Susan Thornton and operating for more than 50 years, Celerion is a premier provider of clinical pharmacology and advanced bioanalytical sciences, specializing in first-in-human dose escalation, cardiac safety, bioequivalence, drug-drug interaction, renal and hepatic impairment, and other complex clinical pharmacology studies critical to drug labeling and regulatory approval. The company operates a fully integrated model spanning clinical and laboratory capabilities across a network of purpose-built clinical research units and bioanalytical laboratories in North America and Europe, making it one of the few organizations globally to offer this integrated combination under one roof.
THL Partners brings more than 25 years of investment experience in pharma services across the clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization value chain, reflecting the firm’s Identified Sector Opportunities strategy of building differentiated insight and repeatable value creation capabilities within key subsectors. The investment comes as drug development is growing increasingly complex, driving demand for partners with integrated scientific and operational capabilities.
KEY QUOTES:
“Celerion has built a reputation as a trusted partner to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, grounded in scientific rigor, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to advancing patient outcomes. We are proud of what our team has accomplished and excited to partner with THL to build on this strong foundation. THL’s deep experience in pharma services and collaborative approach make them an ideal partner as we continue to invest in our capabilities and support our customers in bringing new therapies to market. This partnership will allow us to invest further in the capabilities and capacity our customers need as they advance increasingly complex molecules through clinical development.”
Dr. Susan Thornton, Founder and CEO, Celerion
“Celerion plays a critical role in bringing new medicines to market, particularly at the earliest and most complex stages of clinical pharmacology. With its differentiated clinical infrastructure, leading scientific expertise, and strong customer relationships, Celerion is one of the few organizations globally to integrate clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical capabilities under one roof — a combination that is increasingly valuable as drug development grows more complex. We are excited to partner with the Celerion team to support its next phase of growth and innovation.”
Megan Preiner, Managing Director, THL Partners
“THL has been investing in pharma services for more than three decades, building a deep understanding of what drives success across the clinical development value chain. We believe that experience — combined with our long-standing focus on the sector — positions us to be a highly effective partner to Susan and her talented team as they continue to scale this compelling platform and support increasingly complex drug development programs.”
Joshua Nelson, Head of Healthcare, THL Partners
