New Harbor Capital Portfolio Company Monroe Biomedical Research Completes Acquisition of L-MARC

Acquisition strengthens MBR’s capabilities in metabolic and atherosclerosis clinical trials and establishes presence in Louisville market

New Harbor Capital (“New Harbor”) announced today that its portfolio company Monroe Biomedical Research (“MBR”) has completed the acquisition of Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center (“L-MARC”, “the Company”), a Louisville, Kentucky-based clinical trial site business specializing in cardiometabolic and obesity research. This acquisition is a crucial part of advancing MBR’s mission to deliver high-quality trial execution across a diverse range of therapeutic areas.

Founded in 1998 by Dr. Harold Bays, L-MARC has conducted more than 700 Phase I–IV trials in therapeutic areas including obesity, diabetes, lipid disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Bays is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Obesity Medicine, and Clinical Lipidology. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, the Company is known for its consistent trial execution, patient retention, and long-standing relationships with pharmaceutical sponsors. With an increasing demand for obesity and metabolic research and a scalable operational model, L-MARC is well-positioned for continued growth in the MBR network.

This acquisition represents a key step in MBR’s broader platform strategy. L-MARC brings expertise in obesity and cardiometabolic trials, which will strengthen the company’s capabilities. The acquisition will also position MBR to better serve sponsors seeking sites with deep metabolic and atherosclerosis expertise while expanding the company’s geographic reach into a new market.

“We’re very excited to support MBR with this add-on acquisition in a key therapeutic area of focus, and with an incredibly strong Principal Investigator and partner in Dr. Harold Bays,” said Bo Mlnarik, Principal at New Harbor Capital. “We look forward to seeing the continued growth and development of the platform with the combined resources and expertise of L-MARC and MBR.”

“Monroe Biomedical and L-MARC share a belief that advancing clinical research starts with strong, trusted teams and consistent, patient-centered care,” said Suvi Gross, Founder and CEO of Monroe Biomedical Research. “By joining forces, we can accelerate innovation and make a greater impact on the communities we serve. Dr. Bays and the L-MARC team have built an exceptional site with expertise in metabolic and cardiovascular research, and we’re excited to support their continued growth while strengthening our collective capabilities.”

“We are thrilled to join Monroe Biomedical Research,” added Dr. Harold Bays, Medical Director and President of L-MARC. “MBR’s resources, infrastructure, and vision for growth align perfectly with where we want to take our site. This partnership allows us to maintain the patient-centered approach and scientific rigor that defines L-MARC while gaining access to broader opportunities and support.”

McDermott Will & Schulte and Plante Moran provided counsel and advice to Monroe Biomedical Research and New Harbor Capital. DBL Law served as counsel, and Dean Dorton served as advisor to L-MARC on the transaction.

About Monroe Biomedical Research

Founded in 2015, Monroe Biomedical Research (MBR) is a private clinical trial facility headquartered in Monroe, North Carolina. MBR has a history of achieving enrollment targets in a diverse array of clinical trials, including studies investigating treatments for pulmonary, metabolic, cardiological, psychiatric, and infectious diseases, as well as vaccine studies for preventing infectious diseases. MBR is led by four Principal Investigators with a combined 30-plus years in clinical research and a strong site management team. For more information, visit https://monroeresearch.com/.

About L-MARC

Founded by Dr. Harold Bays, the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center (L-MARC) is a clinical research site specializing in metabolic and atherosclerosis trials. With deep expertise in lipid disorders, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and related therapeutic areas, L-MARC has established a reputation for patient recruitment, study execution, and sponsor relationships. Dr. Bays has served as Principal Investigator for over 700 clinical trials and is a recognized leader in obesity medicine, clinical lipidology, and metabolic research. For more information, visit https://www.lmarc.com/.