Thermo Fisher to Buy Drug Trial Firm Clario for $8.9 Billion

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. agreed to acquire Clario Holdings Inc., a privately held maker of drug trial software, for about $8.9 billion in cash.

The deal will give Thermo Fisher, a provider of analytical, clinical and laboratory instruments, access to a company that is playing a leading role in managing clinical data in thousands of drug trials. The agreement also includes potential future payments of as much as $525 million, according to a statement Wednesday.