Life sciences are experiencing an accelerating pace of breakthroughs that “we only expect to continue with the application of AI across pharmaceutical research and regulatory workflows,” Harrison Brunelli, principal at Bregal Sagemount, told PE Hub.
“We believe this creates a significant opportunity for investment in the next generation of technology that enables life sciences companies to implement agentic AI systems and modern data architecture to scale development and commercialization efforts.”
In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, software businesses helping pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations with data traceability and compliance are particularly sought after by private equity.
Starting from the most recent, PE Hub rounded up eight deals in life sciences software dating back to March.
1. Eir Partners acquires Accumulus Technologies
Eir Partners announced in September the acquisition of Accumulus Technologies, a platform that enables life sciences organizations and regulatory authorities to collaborate and exchange information in a secure, cloud-based environment.
Operating out of San Francisco, Accumulus was spun out in 2025 by nonprofit Accumulus Synergy as a standalone commercial organization to raise capital, form partnerships and scale its platform. It has more than 75 regulatory authorities connected today.
Eir Partners plans to increase investment in the company’s technology and capabilities, support continued global adoption of its software and expand its reach across the regulatory ecosystem. The company will retain its existing leadership.
“Accumulus occupies a unique position at the intersection of life sciences, technology and global regulation,” said Brett Carlson, founder and CEO of Eir Partners, in a statement. “Its purpose-built platform, engagement across industry and regulatory authorities, and potential to transform how life sciences companies and regulatory authorities interact make Accumulus a compelling partnership for Eir.”
2. Thoma Bravo takes Kneat private for $466 million
In August, Thoma Bravo announced the completed take-private of Kneat Solutions in an all-cash transaction of $466 million (€404 million; C$650 million).
The purchase price of C$6.50 per share represents a premium of approximately 40 percent to Kneat’s closing price on May 8, the last trading day before the Limerick, Ireland-based company announced a strategic review. It also represents a premium of approximately 20 percent to the closing price on June 5, the last trading day prior to Thoma Bravo’s announcement of its intent to acquire the company.
With the company’s software platform, Kneat Gx, life science companies can digitalize data for integrity and traceability in validation and compliance processes for pharma, biotech and medical devices, equipment and systems. The software includes AI for accelerating validation, and the company also offers auditing services for compliance and documentation.
“Kneat has established itself as a vital platform for life sciences and highly regulated enterprises, and is well positioned to capitalize on growing market demand and increasing validation complexity,” said Chandler Gay, senior vice president at Thoma Bravo, in a statement.
3. Riverside-backed Decera Clinical invests in Onviv
In July, Decera Clinical, a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, announced an investment in Onviv, a healthcare knowledge and expert network software platform.
Based in Morristown, New Jersey, Onviv enables training for pharmaceutical professionals and connects life science professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical teams with a global network of practicing physicians and clinical experts. It facilitates sharing of real-world intelligence and peer-to-peer expert engagement.
Decera Clinical is a provider of continuing education for medical professionals and based in Reston, Virginia. Riverside invested in Decera Clinical in 2020.
4. Bregal Sagemount and Ardian back Ennov
Also in July, Bregal Sagemount and Ardian closed an investment in Ennov, a clinical software provider for life sciences and healthcare companies. The two PE firms previously announced an agreement to invest in May.
Ennov is based in Paris and provides software for regulated content, data and process management. It supports the entire life sciences R&D continuum including clinical, regulatory, quality, pharmacovigilance and commercial requirements.
The investment is expected to support Ennov’s continued expansion, with a focus on AI innovation, global go-to-market acceleration and scaling its product offering.
“Pharmaceutical companies are managing increasingly complex regulatory requirements as they bring new products to market across jurisdictions with different regimes,” said Brunelli. “These workflows are mission-critical and resilient through economic cycles. Further, speed to market is directly impacted by the speed and accuracy of regulatory processes. Bregal Sagemount canvassed the sector around this thesis and built a relationship with Ennov over several years before the opportunity to invest emerged.”
5. Corten, Ampersand acquire Beacon Intelligence
Corten Capital and Ampersand Capital Partners announced in June the closing of the acquisition of Beacon Intelligence from the Hanson Wade Group, an events and conferences operator backed by Graphite Capital. Corten Capital is the majority owner, while Ampersand is a minority co-investor.
According to the acquisition agreement, which was announced in May, Graphite expected to generate a cash return of around 4x Graphite’s investment in Hanson Wade as a whole.
Following the transaction, the London-based Beacon Intelligence became an independent company. It designs software that helps life science and pharmaceutical businesses to track competitive pipelines and inform research and development investment decisions. It has a data set across 16 modules, covering complex modalities such as RNA, alongside disease-based modules including oncology and neuroscience.
Beacon Intelligence is the third investment out of Corten Capital II, a fund that closed in March 2024 with €680 million in capital commitments.
Graphite retained the Hanson Wade business following the close of the deal.
6. Teleo Capital scoops up Modersys
Also in June, Teleo Capital Management announced the acquisition of SmartFactory Rx, a pharmaceutical manufacturing intelligence platform, from Applied Materials.
As part of the transaction, SmartFactory Rx rebranded as Modersys.
Headquartered in Boston, Modersys helps biopharmaceutical, nutritional and other life sciences companies improve yield, reduce variability, accelerate time to market and maintain regulatory fidelity. It provides real-time analytics, AI and machine learning process intelligence, advanced process control, adaptive scheduling and alarm management across the full manufacturing lifecycle. The software is deployed across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
7. Eir Partners backs QuartzBio
In May, Eir Partners announced a growth investment in QuartzBio, a provider of sample and biomarker intelligence software for clinical‑stage biopharma.
The investment is expected to help the Frederick, Maryland-based company accelerate enhancements across its platform and operating model.
“QuartzBio has demonstrated both strong product‑market fit and tangible economic impact for sponsors managing complex portfolios,” said Carlson in a statement. “By embedding domain-specific AI directly into clinical and translational workflows, the company is well positioned to shape how next-generation trials are conducted.”
8. PE investor group completes $8.9bn sale of Clario to Thermo Fisher
Nordic Capital, Astorg, Cinven and Novo Holdings announced in March the completed sale of Clario Holdings, a Philadelphia-based clinical trial data firm, for $8.88 billion in cash. The buyer was Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Clario provides management software, connected devices, AI and other endpoint data technologies and services for clinical trials. It is now part of Thermo’s laboratory products and biopharma services segment.
Nordic Capital acquired the company in 2016 and nearly quadrupled Clario’s revenue over a 10-year holding period. Novo Holdings became a minority stakeholder in this initial transaction. Astorg acquired an equal stake as Nordic in 2019. Cinven became the smallest shareholder in Clario via the company’s acquisition of BioClinica.
In 2025, the company acquired NeuroRx and WCG’s eCOA business.
“The business intrinsically is hard to displace and is not directly at risk from AI in the sense that it’s an incredibly regulatory-sensitive area,” Nordic Capital partner Joel Davidkin told PE Hub in a deep dive on the sale.
As AI opens up opportunities in the sector, PE Hub expects to see more life science software deals in the coming months.