SEOUL, South Korea and RALEIGH, N.C., October 13, 2026 — GCCL, a South Korea-based leading global clinical trial central laboratory represented by CEO Kwan-goo Cho, announced today that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LabConnect on October 12 to expand global clinical trial collaboration. LabConnect is a global central laboratory and clinical trial samples solutions partner.
Built on a collaborative relationship spanning more than 20 years, this agreement aims to improve the operational efficiency of global clinical trial projects by linking the regional capabilities and expertise of both companies across North America and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
The signing ceremony, held at GCCL's headquarters, was attended by key executives from both organizations, including GCCL CEO Kwan-goo Cho and from LabConnect, Jeff Mayhew, Founder and Strategic Commercial Advisor, and Joshua Gentile, Senior Vice President, Head of Commercial Sales and Marketing. During the event, the two companies shared their core services and future visions, discussing key collaborative initiatives, including:
- Identifying potential clients and supporting sales within each region
- Integrating global clinical trials and central laboratory services
- Cooperating on project management and client communications
- Formulating joint marketing strategies and identifying new business opportunities
Under this agreement, GCCL and LabConnect plan to establish a mutual collaboration framework leveraging their respective regional strengths and partner relationships. Furthermore, the companies intend to drive joint sales and marketing initiatives while setting up shared systems and processes for client responses and project management.
"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. "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."
Kwan-goo Cho, CEO of GCCL, stated, "This MOU marks the starting point of connecting GCCL's execution capabilities in the APAC region with LabConnect’s comprehensive global alliance of clinical and specialty laboratories. We are committed to building a practical collaborative framework spanning joint sales, project execution, and client management to accelerate our global clinical trial business."
GCCL x LabConnect
Strategic Partnership MOU Signing Ceremony
October 12, 2026 | GCCL Conference Room
GCCL and LabConnect have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to link their North American and Asia-Pacific capabilities, supporting joint sales and project execution for global clinical trials.
Key Takeaways
- GCCL and LabConnect signed an MOU on October 12, 2026 to expand global clinical trial collaboration, building on a relationship spanning more than 20 years.
- The agreement links GCCL's Asia-Pacific (APAC) execution capabilities with LabConnect's North American presence and global alliance of clinical and specialty laboratories, aiming to improve the operational efficiency of global clinical trial projects.
- The collaboration will give clients a more integrated approach to global clinical trials and central laboratory services, with streamlined project management and communications to support efficient trial delivery.
- The companies intend to establish a mutual collaboration framework with shared systems and processes for client responses and project management.
- The partnership is designed to give sponsors a more coordinated path for multi-regional studies, including complex studies conducted in South Korea and across the Asia-Pacific region.
FAQs
What did GCCL and LabConnect announce?
GCCL and LabConnect signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 12, 2026, at GCCL's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. The agreement links the regional capabilities and expertise of both companies across North America and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with the aim of improving the operational efficiency of global clinical trials.
What will the GCCL and LabConnect collaboration focus on?
The companies plan to identify potential clients and support sales within each region, integrate global clinical trials and central laboratory services, and cooperate on project management and client communications. They also plan to formulate joint marketing strategies and identify new business opportunities.
How does this partnership benefit pharmaceutical and biotech sponsors running multi-regional clinical trials?
The partnership pairs GCCL's laboratory and logistics strength in APAC with LabConnect's global alliance of clinical and specialty laboratories and proactive sample logistics oversight. Together, they aim to simplify and orchestrate complex studies in South Korea and the Asia-Pacific region, with shared systems for client responses and project management.
Who is GCCL?
GCCL, a subsidiary of the GC Group, is a clinical trial sample analysis provider offering an integrated "one-stop lab solution" with central, bioanalysis, and BSL-3 labs under one system. It supports partners across Asia and beyond, and recently received Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Best Practices Customer Value Leadership Award in the APAC clinical sample analysis services industry.
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.
About LabConnect
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.
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