On integration, change leadership, and strengthening Apices as one unified organization 

In a clinical research environment where sponsors value stability, predictability, and quality above all else, organizational change must be approached with care. As APICES CRO finalizes the integration of Kappa Santé, the company has focused on reinforcing what clients already trust – experienced teams, consistent delivery, and robust quality – while strengthening its operational foundations for long-term growth.

In this interview,Oscar Salamanca, CEO of APICES, shares how the integration has been implemented, how teams are supported through change, and what this means for current and future clients.

Q: Oscar, APICES is finalizing the integration of Kappa Santé. Where does the organization stand today?

Oscar Salamanca: We are in the final phase of integration, with the essential elements being established: aligned governance, unified operational procedures, and moving towards a single Quality Management System across the group.

Change is never unique to one organization, it is a reality in any growing company. What matters is how it is managed. From the outset, we worked closely with our teams to ensure that changes were understood, structured, and purposeful. The objective was not to disrupt, but to align.

Today, APICES and Kappa Santé operate as one organization, with a shared operational backbone and a common direction.

Q: Clients often associate integration with uncertainty. What should sponsors working with APICES expect?

Oscar Salamanca: Sponsors can expect continuity.

Ongoing studies continue with the same teams, the same leadership oversight, and the same contractual and quality commitments. There has been no interruption to delivery and no change in how clients engage with us.

At the same time, we have strengthened the internal environment in which our teams operate. Unifying procedures and systems improve consistency and transparency, supporting reliable execution without changing the client experience.

Q: Why was it important to implement unified procedures and a single QMS?

Oscar Salamanca: Procedures and quality systems define how an organization functions in practice.

A single QMS ensures that teams across countries and disciplines will operate according to the same standards, make decisions within the same framework, and maintain consistent oversight. This alignment is particularly important when combining clinical research with real-world evidence and HEOR capabilities.

We are working closely with teams to implement these systems in a way that supports both compliance and practicality. The expected result is a stronger, more coherent quality environment for our clients.

Q: How have teams been supported through this period of change?

Oscar Salamanca: People are central to APICES, and that guided every decision.

Change requires engagement. We are focusing on fostering a change-driven attitude, encouraging teams to understand the rationale behind decisions and to actively participate in shaping how we work together.

Importantly, all teams remain on board. Expertise has been retained, collaboration strengthened. This approach supports both stability and long-term development.

Q: What does APICES look like today from a sponsor’s perspective?

Oscar Salamanca: From a sponsor’s point of view, APICES remains a reliable, responsive partner, now with broader integrated capabilities and expanded geography.

With Kappa Santé fully part of APICES, sponsors can access clinical trial execution, real-world evidence, and HEOR services within one organizational and quality framework. This reduces fragmentation and supports more coherent evidence strategies across the product lifecycle.

Q: Beyond expanding services, how has the integration strengthened APICES’ geographic footprint across Europe?

Oscar Salamanca: The integration strengthens APICES not only in terms of capabilities, but also in how and where we operate.

By bringing teams and networks together, we have reinforced our presence across Western, Southern, and Northern Europe, with active operations in markets known for reliable site performance, experienced investigators, and efficient patient recruitment. This allows us to support sponsors in regions that consistently deliver high-quality data while maintaining competitive timelines.

 Importantly, this geographic expansion is not theoretical. It is built on established local teams, long-standing site relationships, and hands-on operational experience in fast-recruiting European markets. For clients, this means broader coverage without sacrificing local expertise, regulatory familiarity, or execution control. All services across these regions are delivered by APICES’ in-house teams, ensuring consistency, accountability, and quality – without reliance on freelancers.

Q: APICES and Kappa Santé are already working together on a mutual project. Why is this significant?

Oscar Salamanca: It demonstrates that integration is operational, not theoretical. This multi-country Phase III study brings together clinical operations team members from Spain and France, under unified governance. It reflects how APICES intends to deliver complex programs – collaboratively, consistently, and with clear accountability. 

Q: Kappa Santé now operates fully under the APICES brand. What does this represent?

Oscar Salamanca: A single brand provides clarity. For clients, it means one partner, one standard of quality, and one accountable organization. For teams, it reinforces shared identity and purpose. Kappa Santé’s expertise is fully embedded within APICES, strengthening the group while maintaining continuity.

Q: What message would you like to leave with current and prospective clients?

Oscar Salamanca: APICES is stable, aligned, and growing with intention. We have approached integration responsibly, preserving continuity, strengthening quality, and investing in how we work as an organization. Clients benefit from consistency today and improved capabilities for the future.

Looking ahead

The integration of Kappa Santé marks an important step in APICES’ long-term strategy: strengthening operational foundations while expanding scientific and clinical capabilities under one unified organization and becoming the go to European CRO.

For clients, this means continuity of teams, reinforced quality systems, and a partner that is investing not only in growth, but in how that growth is delivered. APICES moves forward as one organization – focused, aligned, and committed to predictable, high-quality delivery.