# Charles River Laboratories **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/charles-river-laboratories **Vertical:** Technology **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** criver.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Global CRO with $4B revenue supplying 50% of preclinical research models; expanding into gene therapy manufacturing and integrated drug development services. ## Company Overview Charles River Laboratories International is a global contract research organization (CRO) providing essential services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies for preclinical drug discovery, development, and safety assessment. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Charles River supplies research models (laboratory rodents, primates), preclinical services (toxicology, pharmacology studies), and manufacturing support services including microbial testing and cell and gene therapy development. The company is listed on the NYSE and generates approximately $4 billion in annual revenue. Charles River's research models business — supplying genetically characterized laboratory mice, rats, and other species — is essentially a utility for biomedical research, with the company providing approximately 50% of the preclinical models used in academic and commercial research globally. The company has expanded significantly into biopharmaceutical services, acquiring Argenta (drug metabolism), Absorption Systems, KWS BioTest, and others to provide integrated discovery-to-filing services for small biotech companies and large pharma alike. In 2025, Charles River navigates a challenging period for contract research organizations. The broader biotech funding contraction of 2022-2024 reduced client spending on early-stage research services, leading to revenue growth deceleration and margin pressure across the CRO sector. The company has undertaken cost reduction measures and portfolio rationalization to align capacity with lower near-term demand. Additionally, activist animal rights pressure on primate research has created regulatory and reputational challenges. Charles River's 2025-2026 strategy focuses on the most profitable service segments — gene therapy manufacturing and regulated safety studies — while managing through the biotech spending normalization cycle. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Charles River Laboratories? Charles River Laboratories is a leading global Contract Research Organization (CRO) that provides drug discovery, non-clinical safety testing, and research services. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, the company operates 150+ facilities across 21 countries. ### What products and services does Charles River Laboratories offer? Charles River Laboratories offers Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), Manufacturing Solutions and Microbial Testing, Bioanalytical and Laboratory Sciences, and Regulatory Compliance and Safety Testing. These services support pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout the drug development process. ### Who are Charles River Laboratories' target customers? Charles River Laboratories serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies involved in drug development and discovery. Their clients include companies seeking non-clinical safety testing, research services, and regulatory compliance support. ### When was Charles River Laboratories founded? Charles River Laboratories was founded in 1947. ### Where is Charles River Laboratories headquartered? Charles River Laboratories is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA. The company has a global presence with 150+ facilities across 21 countries. ### What is Charles River Laboratories' global reach? Charles River Laboratories operates in 21 countries worldwide with more than 150 facilities. This extensive global footprint enables the company to serve clients across multiple regions. ### What are Charles River Laboratories' key achievements? Charles River Laboratories has worked on over 80% of FDA-approved drugs in the past 5 years. In 2023, 85% of FDA-approved drugs involved Charles River services. ### What is Charles River Laboratories' approach to drug development? Charles River Laboratories provides comprehensive services spanning the entire drug development continuum, from early discovery through non-clinical safety assessment to manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Their integrated approach supports clients with research models, safety testing, and laboratory sciences. ### How can I get started with Charles River Laboratories? Based on the provided information, Charles River Laboratories is located in Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA and operates facilities across 21 countries. Specific contact details are not provided in the available information. ### What recent developments has Charles River Laboratories announced? In 2023, Charles River Laboratories announced that 85% of FDA-approved drugs involved their services, demonstrating their continued leadership in the pharmaceutical research and development sector. The company maintains its extensive global network of 150+ facilities across 21 countries. ## Tags b2b, global, public, enterprise, saas --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*