According to Accenture, the deal will expand its capabilities to include clinical and regulatory services, ranging from data collection to the management of regulatory submissions. In addition, Accenture will extend its business-process outsourcing services to target the pharmaceutical industry. With a staff of 380, Octagon is the fifth-largest user of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's electronic submission gateway, Accenture said. Octagon aids in establishing clinical data conversion and training standards, and partners with regulatory authorities on a number of fronts. Octagon will be fully integrated into Accenture's Life Sciences industry group. The acquisition is expected to close within 60 days.
