Oracle is buying Phase Forward, a maker of software used to manage clinical drug trials, for $17 per share in cash, or $685 million, according to AP. The price is 30 percent above Phase Forward Inc.'s closing stock price Thursday, of $13.08. The Waltham, Massachusetts, company's software has been used in over 10,000 clinical trials. The deal announced Friday is expected to close in the middle of the year. Phase Forward will be merged into Oracle Corp.'s Health Sciences Global Business Unit, Oracle says. Oracle is based in Redwood Shores, California.