About Us

hVIVO is a purpose-built, full-service, international clinical development partner, delivering decisive human data quickly, reliably and cost-effectively. The world leader in human challenge trials, hVIVO works with seven of the world’s ten largest biopharma companies, and a large number of established and emerging biotechs, providing an accelerated pathway to clinical proof-of-concept and bringing important medicines to patients faster.

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Full-Service
CRO

hVIVO is a full-service early phase CRO offering end-to-end drug development services from preclinical consultancy through to Phase III clinical trials, including world leading end-to-end human challenge trials services. With decades of experience in rapidly delivering data for our global client base, our team brings together strategic insight and operational expertise to deliver a variety of clinical study types across multiple locations. 

To support rapid study start-up and reliable delivery, our dedicated recruitment teams in Germany and the UK provide direct access to both healthy volunteers and patient populations. This is complemented by our integrated drug development consultancy as well as our infectious disease and immunology laboratories and biobanking services.

100+

Years of Service, Reputation & Trust

Over a century of combined experience in clinical research and infectious disease. Our heritage underpins the expertise and credibility we bring to every study.

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Key Areas of Expertise

Integrated capabilities across consultancy, clinical trials, laboratories, human challenge studies, and recruitment. Together, these services provide a seamless end-to-end development platform.

400k

Trial Participants Database

Access to one of the largest specialist volunteer databases in Europe. This enables rapid recruitment and high retention to keep studies on track.

1.9k

Trials Completed & Counting

A proven track record of successfully delivering a high volume of clinical trials across multiple phases and therapeutic areas. We focus on quality, efficiency, and reliable outcomes.

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Clinical Sites

A network of purpose-built, wholly-owned, clinical research facilities across the UK and Germany. Designed to support efficient trial delivery, including complex and early-phase studies.

hVIVO Mission & Vision

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Our Purpose

Accelerate the development of safe and effective medicines that improve the lives of people around the world.

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Our Mission

To constantly pursue new ways to reduce the time, risk and cost of bringing much needed life-changing medicines to market

Core solutions

hVIVO is a purpose-built, full-service clinical development partner, integrating clinical trial delivery, specialist laboratories, consultancy, and world-leading human challenge trial services to generate decisive human data - fast.

Working with global biopharma and emerging biotech companies, we provide an accelerated, de-risked pathway to clinical proof-of-concept. Our end-to-end model connects expert study design, rapid recruitment, purpose-built facilities, and advanced laboratory capabilities to deliver high-quality, actionable insights with speed and precision.

From early strategy through to clinical execution and data delivery, hVIVO enables smarter development decisions, helping bring vital medicines to patients faster.


Clinical Phase I-III
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Labs
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Consultancy
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Human Challenge Trials
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World leading human challenge services

We have world-class expertise in bespoke challenge model development (challenge agent manufacture and characterisation) and a unique portfolio of infectious and respiratory disease models. extensive experience, collected over 25 years of conducting challenge studies, ensures expert scientific guidance and support, effective study design and excellent delivery for pharma and biotech clients. 

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Integrated end-to-end solutions

By combining Venn’s drug development consultancy, clinical trial design and execution and CRS’s Phase I–III trial capabilities with hVIVO’s full spectrum of early clinical development services, we provide seamless support from preclinical studies through to Phase III.

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Highly specialised infectious disease lab services

We offer laboratory services, based in Canary Wharf, London. hVIVO is a highly specialised infectious disease laboratory offering a suite of services to support pre-clinical and clinical drug and vaccine discovery & development.

Reliable laboratory analysis underpinned by scientific expertise is essential when processing and analysing clinical samples. Robust quality processes support our team of scientists in the delivery of submission ready data. Through our Greenwich facilities we also offer long term storage solutions for biological samples and compounds ranging from ambient to ultra-low temperatures.
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Access to healthy participants and patients through FluCamp and CRS

One of our key advantages is access to diverse study participants. FluCamp (UK-based) recruits healthy volunteers for human challenge trials, while CRS (Germany-based) enrols both healthy volunteers and patients for Phase I–III studies, ensuring robust, high-quality data across our early clinical programs.
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Meet our experienced teams

Explore the profiles of our Board of Directors to learn more about their experience and leadership. Click through to read full bios, discover articles and insights they’ve contributed, and connect with them on LinkedIn to stay up to date with their latest thinking.

Our History

From its origins in the UK’s pioneering Common Cold Unit to a global leader in human challenge trials and early-phase clinical development, hVIVO’s journey reflects decades of innovation, growth, and scientific leadership.

1989

Our founder, Prof John Oxford, worked at the Common Cold Unit alongside Dr David Tyrell, and after it closed, went on to setup Retroscreen Virology Limited out of Queens Mary University in 1989.

2015

Retroscreen, renamed hVIVO in 2015 as part of its IPO on the London Stock Exchange (AIM:HVO), is now a full-service early phase CRO and the world leading provider of human challenge trial services

2020

In 2020, hVIVO merged with Venn Life Sciences adding over 25 years of integrated drug development services experience, offering a unique combination of drug development consultancy, clinical trial design and execution.

2024

In 2024, we launched our flagship Canary Wharf site — the world’s largest commercial human challenge trial facility — housing 50 quarantine bedrooms, advanced laboratories, an outpatient unit, and corporate headquarters.

2025

Capabilities were further enhanced in 2025 through the acquisition of Cryostore, providing long term storage solutions for biological samples and compounds ranging from ambient to ultra-low temperatures.

In 2025 hVIVO also acquired CRS Mannheim and Kiel in Germany, contributing over 40 years of early clinical development services, from first-in-human studies to proof-of-concept trials.

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Find and connect with our global teams—ready to support your clinical development programmes wherever you are.