Charles River Sells European Assets, Sharpens Strategy

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) announced the sale of several European assets as part of a strategic shift to optimize its portfolio. Simultaneously, IQVIA signed an agreement to acquire certain Charles River discovery services assets, including an AI platform for small molecule research, boosting its capabilities in animal-free drug discovery. These moves enable Charles River to reduce geographic exposure and focus on core activities, potentially improving profitability but also affecting short-term valuation. The market will watch closely to assess the impact of these divestitures on the group's growth momentum.