WHO WE ARE / SINCE 1998

Primary data that holds. Evidence that moves the marker. We build the arc.

When operational rigor meets strategic foresight, data becomes evidence that counts.

Small enough to be agile.
Rooted deep enough to matter.

Founded in Berlin and embedded in the 500+ expert network of the athagoras group, CSG is a Full-Service CRO with the personal attention of a boutique partner. Twenty-five years in the D-A-CH region have built deep familiarity with Germany's regulatory and HTA landscape, with the reach to navigate European processes just as confidently.

Flat hierarchies, direct access to experts, no detours. The person you meet at kickoff is the person on your study. Need to scale from 1 to 90 sites?

We exist for sponsors who want clinical research done right: meticulous, fast, and audit-ready by default, from first patient in to the final Clinical Study Report.

"Small enough to be agile. Rooted deep enough to matter. Large enough to handle anything it requires." CSG POSITIONING
LEADERSHIP
Dr. Marc Kurepkat
CEO · SINCE 2001 WITH IGES

Dr. Marc Kurepkat

General Practitioner · 30+ years in executive positions · IGES Group since 2001

Marc Kurepkat, MD, is a physician and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of medicine, digital health, and healthcare innovation, including executive positions across the German healthcare system.

A pioneer in the digitalisation of health information in Germany, Marc was among the first to build consumer and professional health information portals, during his time with Bertelsmann Mediengruppe. He has since founded two healthcare startups: Mediplaza, spanning medical centres, managed care, nursing services, and physiotherapy; and Sanmelio, focused on outpatient psychotherapy.

His clinical background includes training in internal medicine and geriatrics, work as an emergency medicine physician, and a doctorate in infectious diseases. He has been significantly involved in the development of case management programmes and was an early pioneer in building digital patient support applications for high-cost indications.

Since 2001, he has been closely affiliated with the IGES Group. He holds the position of CEO of CSG and has previously served as COO and consultant, with a focus on Real-World Data, chronic diseases, digital health, and healthcare innovation.

Marc remains active as a General Practitioner in ambulatory care.

Real-World DataChronic DiseasesDigitalizationDiGA · Digital HealthAmbulatory Practice

A short
company history.

FROM THE FOUNDING IN 1998 TO THE ATHAGORAS GROUP IN 2025. SCROLL → FOR THE REST

1998

Foundation

With the founding of the Clinical Study Group (CSG), we lay the groundwork for a specialised clinical research unit within the IGES Group, with a clear mandate: collect primary data where secondary data falls short.

2001

Oracle

Thinking big from the start: with the introduction of Oracle, we invest early in professional data infrastructure, because quality in clinical research allows no compromise.

2008

HAROW Study

A milestone in real-world evidence for urological oncology: the HAROW study is one of the largest observational studies on prostate cancer in the German-speaking world, establishing CSG as a leading address for practice-close research.

2012–2019

IGES goes European

With Health Econ in Switzerland (2012) and Device Access UK Ltd (2019), the IGES Group expands beyond Germany. CSG connects with market access and reimbursement experts for MedTech and pharma, as an embedded CRO with European reach.

2017

Innovationsfonds

The G-BA Innovation Fund launches, and we are there from day one. Our DNA: looking beyond the obvious, linking clinical research with health services research and health policy. Evidence that keeps the bigger picture in mind.

2020

First DiGA Study

Startup meets statutory health insurance: with the first study on a Digital Health Application, we enter uncharted territory together with our partners. Steep learning curves for everyone. And further proof of our commitment to innovation.

2022

First Anwendungsbegleitende Datenerhebung (ABD)

Registry-based, complex, pioneering: with the first ABD (initially for Zolgensma, then for Risdiplam), we establish a new study type in the German healthcare landscape.

2025

First Erprobungsstudie

Controlled designs in real-world evidence: with the first Erprobungsstudie, we deliver evidence that truly counts in the care context.

2025

athagoras

Over 500 experts. One goal.

The wider leadership bench.

Each of our heads has spent 15+ years in clinical research without losing the creative edge: specialists who see the whole picture, not just a piece of it. And behind them, a team as diverse as it is driven. Different backgrounds, strong profiles, all sharing a real drive to foster innovation through clinical research.

PART OF ATHAGORAS GROUP

500+ life-sciences experts across 14 countries in Europe and the US, under one integrated group.

athagoras is a life sciences consulting group dedicated to accelerating success for pharmaceutical and medical device clients, through bespoke expertise in clinical research, regulatory affairs, market access, and real-world evidence.

IGES InstitutHEALTH ECONOMICS
CSGCLINICAL TRIALS
AthagorasEDC / DATA
IGES NordicREGISTRY

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