The START Center for Cancer Research announced on March 18 the expansion of its network with the acquisition of Carolina Urologic Research Center (CURC) located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
CURC is a clinical research clinic specializing in genitourinary (GU) oncology. Under the direction of Dr. Neal Shore, CURC conducts phase I – IV drug, biotechnology and device trials focusing on urological diseases. CURC has conducted nearly 500 clinical trials, making it the top urologic oncology site worldwide by both volume and quality. CURC is a separate and independent research arm of Grand Strand Urology, a division of Atlantic Urology Clinics.
Rooted in community oncology centers globally, The START Center for Cancer Research provides access to specialized preclinical and early-phase clinical trials of novel anti-cancer agents. START clinical trial sites have conducted more than a thousand early-phase clinical trials, including for 45 therapies that were approved by the FDA or EMA.
With the integration of CURC’s specialized trial capabilities and expertise and to further strengthen its leadership in GU oncology research, START is establishing a dedicated Center of Excellence (COE) focused on delivering a comprehensive trial solution for urological cancers. Under the leadership of Dr. Neal Shore, the COE will drive innovation in urologic oncology by expanding partnerships with urological practices globally. This initiative ensures that sponsors have access to a fully integrated, end-to-end solution, accelerating the development of novel therapies for patients worldwide.
According to data in the LevinPro HC database, this transaction represents the fourth clinical trial acquisition of 2025. There were 27 clinical trial transactions announced in 2024, and 42 announced in 2023.
