Raleigh-based central laboratory company LabConnect has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GCCL, a South Korean clinical trial sample analysis lab, to work together on global studies that span North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The two companies signed the agreement on October 12 at GCCL’s headquarters and announced it the next day. The deal formalizes what the companies describe as a working relationship of more than 20 years. “Through this collaboration with GCCL, we expect to simplify and orchestrate complex studies conducted in South Korea and the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jeff Mayhew, Founder and Strategic Commercial Advisor of LabConnect.
What the Agreement Covers
The MOU sets up a framework for the two labs to share sales leads, coordinate project management and present a more unified service to sponsors running trials in both regions. According to the announcement, the companies will work on identifying potential clients in each other’s territories, integrating global trial support with central lab services, cooperating on project management and client communications, and building joint marketing plans. Korean trade outlet Medigate News reported that the work will be split by geography: GCCL will handle sample analysis and project execution for studies in Korea and the wider APAC region, while LabConnect will cover North America and other overseas regions through its own central lab network. As an MOU, the agreement sets out intentions rather than binding terms, and neither company disclosed financial details.
Why Sample Logistics Matter in Global Trials
Central labs receive and test patient samples from many trial sites so that results are measured consistently, which becomes harder when a study spans continents, time zones and regulatory systems. Mayhew pointed to that coordination problem directly. “Pairing GCCL’s laboratory and logistics strength with our global alliance of clinical and specialty laboratories, along with proactive sample logistics oversight and intervention, provides sponsors a more coordinated path for multi-regional studies,” he said. LabConnect runs what it calls a decentralized model, partnering with outside labs rather than owning all of its testing capacity. In January it listed seven operational locations near partner laboratoriesacross North America, Latin America, Europe and the UK, Australia and China, with South Korea named as a planned addition. The GCCL agreement fits that stated expansion plan.
About LabConnect
LabConnect® announced a new global headquarters in Raleigh in January 2026, saying it would build out commercial, project management, scientific operations, technology and data science teams there. CEO Wes Wheeler, who joined the company in September 2024, said at the time of the move that LabConnect would be “exactly where our customers are making some of their most important decisions about drug development.”
LabConnect® is a global central laboratory services and clinical trial sample solutions partner, connecting the full sample journey, from biomarker strategy and custom kitting through testing, storage, and submission-ready data. The company combines scientific and operational expertise, its global alliance of clinical and specialty laboratories, worldwide logistics oversight, and integrated data services to support routine and specialized testing across complex global studies. LabConnect helps pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and contract research organizations reduce operational risk, improve study predictability, and generate meaningful insights from each sample.
About GCCL
GCCL, a subsidiary of the GC Group, is a leading clinical trial sample analysis provider offering an integrated “one-stop lab solution” with central, bioanalysis, and BSL-3 labs under one system. With tailored solutions, GCCL delivers precise and efficient analytical services across all phases of clinical trials, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in new drug development. Leveraging advanced platforms and LIMS, the company supports partners across Asia and beyond with customized and compliant solutions. In recognition of its leadership, GCCL recently received Frost & Sullivan’s 2025 Best Practices Customer Value Leadership Award in the Asia-Pacific clinical sample analysis services industry
