ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Altarum Institute President and CEO Lincoln Smith announced today that Altarum has purchased Rockville, Maryland-based KAI Research, Inc. (KAI). KAI will become a for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary and will continue to operate from its current headquarters in Maryland.

“One of Altarum’s core research thrusts is health care innovation and innovative care delivery. Purchasing KAI will add a completely new dimension to our effort,” said Smith in making the announcement of the acquisition. “KAI’s support of clinical research and science-based innovation in health care provides critical new technical capabilities and market presence for Altarum. With the addition of KAI, we have a major opportunity to strengthen clinical research and to enhance the application of research-based knowledge for the most effective and safe health care practice.”

KAI was founded in 1986. The company employs approximately 70 employees and generated more than $10 million in revenue in 2008. KAI provides innovative, cost-effective and practical support to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, academic institutions and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It currently supports pharmaco-vigilance activities for over 90 marketed drugs and is providing safety surveillance for dozens of ongoing clinical trials. In addition, KAI’s clinical research and information technology (IT) capabilities support potential preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures in health care practice.

“We are excited about becoming a part of Altarum – it is the logical next step for KAI. There are great synergies between the two organizations that will enable us to make an even greater contribution to improving health care,” commented both Selma Kunitz, President of KAI and Rene Kozloff, Executive Vice President of KAI. “By integrating our clinical research expertise with Altarum’s research and consulting model, we will be in an even better position to provide our clients with a new range of capabilities.”