In this episode, we trace the evolution of Charles River Laboratories, an American corporation that began in 1947 when a young veterinarian set up a one-person laboratory with one thousand rat cages overlooking the Charles River in Boston. We discuss how the company grew from a local supplier of laboratory animals into a massive contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, that now employs over 20,000 people across at least 20 countries.

Listeners will learn about the company’s pivotal role in supporting the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries by providing preclinical and clinical services for the development of new drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. We analyze their aggressive growth strategy, highlighting key acquisitions—such as Inveresk, MPI Research, and Cognate BioServices—that expanded t ...