| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pharmaceutical/biotechnology/agrochemical |
| Founded | 1976; 49 years ago (1976) |
| Founder | G. Bruce Briggs, DVM |
| Successor | Charles River Laboratories Ashland, LLC |
| Headquarters | Ashland, Ohio |
Key people | Joseph F. Holson, DABFE(President [1988-2008] during sustained organic growth phase) |
| Services | |
Number of employees | 1,300[1] (2016) |
WIL Research Laboratories, LLC (acquired in 2016 and renamed Charles River Laboratories Ashland, LLC)[2] was acontract research organization (CRO), privately held for 40 years, that provided product safetytoxicological research,metabolism,bioanalytical,pharmacological, andformulation services to thepharmaceutical,biotechnology,chemical,agrochemical, andfood products industries, as well as manufacturing support forclinical trials. WIL Research was well-known internationally in many disciplines, and considered by many industry experts to be the premier laboratory in the world for developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART).[3]
WIL Research Laboratories was founded in 1976 inCincinnati,Ohio by G. Bruce Briggs, Ralph S. Hodgdon, and Robert W. Brigham, with Briggs serving as the company's first president.[citation needed] The company was initially a limited mammalian toxicological testing laboratory that conducted short-term studies for several clients in the Cincinnati area. In 1978,Great Lakes Chemical Corporation acquired WIL Research Laboratories.[4] By 1980, WIL Research outgrew its facilities inCincinnati, subsequently acquired the 75-acre Hess & Clark research facility on the outskirts ofAshland,Ohio, and by 1982 had moved its operations to the new location.[5] The move toAshland enabled WIL to conduct a larger number of studies as it began to expand its client base.[6]
Dr. Joseph F. Holson was named President and Director of WIL Research Laboratories in 1988. Under his leadership over the next 20 years, WIL Research grew from 31 employees into a dynamiccontract research organization employing more than 600 individuals at theAshland site.[7] This success was attributed to the company's entrepreneurial scientific management, study director-centricbusiness model, internationally recognized scientific prowess (particularly in DART), internally developed innovations (including the industry's first protocol-driventoxicologydata management software system), and strong involvement in theAshland community.[7][8]
DuringHolson's tenure, WIL Research continuously expanded its scientific capabilities, facilities, and staffing levels. During this period, the company grew from a limited mammalian toxicology research laboratory into a robust interdisciplinaryCRO offering developmental and reproductive toxicology,neurotoxicology, inhalation toxicology, developmental neurotoxicology, large animal toxicology, juvenile toxicology,safety pharmacology,metabolism,analytical andbioanalytical chemistry, andformulation services to a globally diverse client base.[9] Underpinning the continuous expansion of service capabilities was a steady expansion of the company's facilities from approximately 30,000 square feet to more than 300,000 square feet of dedicatedlaboratory,vivarium, and support services space.[7]
At the heart ofDr. Holson's vision, though, was a drive to continually deepen the company's talent pool, as the number of employees inAshland grew from 31 to more than 600.Joseph Holson was well-known as an energetic, outgoing leader with a vision for the company that revolved around the success of his staff and ongoing recruitment efforts.[7] Critical to the success of WIL Research was a continuous investment in staff training, as new biologists typically underwent a 9-12 month training period and all employees regularly completed continuing education not only in their specific areas of expertise but also in the subjects of animal care and welfare,Good Laboratory Practices, and research integrity.[7][8] Many of the internal training programs developed at WIL Research were highly regarded and requested by clients and industry partners.
A key driver of WIL's steady growth was its study director-centricbusiness model, which viewed each study director as an individual business unit with scientific, project management, and marketing responsibilities. This approach was in contrast to the typical division withinCROs between science and marketing. WIL Research emphasized direct scientist-to-scientist interaction as much as possible across the entire scope of each project, which gained the company numerous accolades from its clients.[10] Examples of the types of projects undertaken by WIL Research included studies of drugs for the treatment ofherpes,Alzheimers' disease,glaucoma,cancer, andAIDS, numerouspesticides, and replacement chemicals forozone-depletingchlorofluorocarbons in fire extinguishers.[8]
Although highly respected in many disciplines, WIL Research was considered by many to be the leading laboratory in the world for developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART).[3] This leadership was driven byDr. Joseph Holson, an internationally recognized authority in the field. The DART division at WIL Research, led initially byDr. Holson and subsequently by Mr. Mark D. Nemec and Dr. Donald G. Stump, became known not only for high-quality regulatory guideline studies, but also for innovative, specialized DART research.
In 1978, as a result of expandingtoxicology testing services, the WIL Toxicology Data Management System (WTDMS™) was developed.[6] This protocol-driven software system was the first in theCRO industry and became the prototype for other majortoxicology testing laboratories.[8] WTDMS™ was licensed to several other toxicology testing laboratories, and was used continuously by WIL Research Laboratories for nearly forty years prior to its gradual replacement by the Provantis system.[11]
While WIL Research depended on the broaderAshland area for a steady supply of qualified personnel, it also contributed extensively toAshland's economic growth, becoming one of the largest employers in the county.[5][7][10] DuringHolson's tenure, the company invested approximately $62 million in facilities renovation and expansion. In a talk given to the localRotary club,Holson added that WIL Research at that time served approximately 550 clients (domestic and international), most of whom regularly visitedAshland to monitor their studies. In 2006, WIL Research received the Golden Oak award from the mayor ofAshland, an award recognizing "the foresight, diligence and unselfishness of individuals or organizations who contribute to new growth, strengthen the roots or improve the overall community ofAshland."[12]
WIL Research also actively supportedAshland University, with many of its senior scientists serving as adjunct professors in their areas of expertise, especially in the undergraduate toxicology program, which the company helped begin in 1984.[8][13][14]Dr. Joseph Holson also served onAshland University's Science Advisory Board (1990-2008) and Board of Trustees (1993-1998), and gave the initial lecture, entitled "Risk and Regulation," of a year-long lecture series in support of the university's Environmental Studies program in 1995.[15]
After nearly two decades of sustained organic growth,Joseph Holson led WIL Research through an initial period of private capital-financed expansion. In 2004, Holson and four other senior executives (Mark D. Nemec, Dr. Christopher P. Chengelis, Dr. Daniel W. Sved, and James M. Rudar) initiated a management buyout (in partnership withprivate equity firm Behrman Capital) fromGreat Lakes Chemical Corporation which led to the formation of a holding company (WRH, Inc.).[16] The expansion continued with the merger of Biotechnics, LLC (Hillsborough, NC, led by Dr. George Parker) with WIL Research operations inAshland, the acquisitions of Notox Beheer BV ('s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, let by Jan van der Hoeven, Dr. Wilbert Frieling, and Dr. Ilona Enninga)[17] and QS Pharma LLC (Boothwyn, PA),[18] and the subsequent $500 million sale of WRH, Inc. to American Capital, Ltd. (NASDAQ:ACAS) in 2007.[19][20] After the sale to ACAS,Dr. Holson served as Vice President andChief Scientific Officer of the global entity while continuing to serve as President and Director of WIL Research Laboratories inAshland, Ohio until his retirement in November 2008. UponDr. Holson's retirement, Mr. Nemec was appointed President andChief Operating Officer of theAshland flagship facility,[21] and Dr. Chengelis was named Vice President andChief Scientific Officer.[22]
Under the ownership of American Capital, David Spaight was named Chairman and CEO of the global holding company in 2010, which undertook a re-branding and global integration effort.[23] During the ACAS-led period, growth of the company occurred primarily through additional acquisitions, including those of Midwest BioResearch, LLC (Skokie, IL, led by Dr. Michael Schlosser)[24] and Ricerca Bioscience's pharmaceutical services facility inLyon, France (led by Stéphane Bulle).[25][26] In addition, a new safety assessment facility inSchaijk,Netherlands (close to the existingDen Bosch site) was opened in 2015 to augment the European operations.[27] These activities combined to increase the total number of employees in the global entity to more than 1300, with total 2015 revenues of $215 million.[2]
In early 2016,Wilmington, MA-basedCharles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL), led byJames C. Foster, acquired the global holdings of WIL Research for $585 million in cash.[28][29] The platform WIL Research Laboratories facility inAshland, OH was subsequently renamed to Charles River Laboratories Ashland, LLC.[30]
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