SUMMARY: Clinical Research Organization are designed to reduce costs for companies developing new medicines and drugs in niche markets. They aim to simplify entry into drug markets, and simplify development, as the need for large pharmaceutical companies to do everything ‘in house’ is now redundant. They also support foundations, research institutions, and universities, in addition to governmental organizations.
In the following article we shall know about few of the Clinical Research Organizations and that are increasing their presence in the clinical world.
Clinical Research Organization (CRO) is a service organization that provides support to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the form of outsourced clinical research courses (for both drugs and medical devices). CROs range from large, international full service organizations to small, niche specialty groups and can offer their clients the experience of moving a new drug or device from its conception to FDA marketing approval without the drug sponsor having to maintain a staff for these services.
The drug discovery process is complex and stubborn. The clinical stage, in particular, is resource intensive, demanding and high risk. A fine balance is required to execute this stage correctly.
Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) support drug manufacturers on their road to discover and approve drugs of the future by absorbing some of the clinical stage’s the burdens. Data research, project management, tests, trials that are run post approval, pre-clinical and clinical are just some of the activities covered.
This relationship, which is built on trust and skill, can award manufacturers with heightened expertise as well as cost and time efficiencies. These benefits come at the cost of duties such as intensive communication management, confidentiality concerns and regulatory considerations.
With expansions, consolidations, and innovations continuing throughout the CRO industry has boosted employment through increased demand for Clinical trial assistants (CTA) and clinical research associates (CRA).
Some of the clinical research organizations who are steadily increasing their presence through strategic partnerships and innovative service offerings:
- PPD: Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is a leading CRO that operates in 48 countries across the globe. They are considered a premium CRO provider for many pharma and biotech companies globally. In May 2019, PPD was recognised by biotech industry leaders as top supplier based on their capability, compatibility and expertise in assisting clinical research training.
- Med Pace: A mid-sized CRO, Med Pace focuses on clinical research for drugs and devices globally. Unlike many of the larger CROs, Med Pace have not invested time and effort in acquisitions but instead chosen to reinvest in their own workforce.
- Clintec: Clintec was a Scottish women-owned independent CRO, before its acquisition by IQVIA that specialises in oncology and rare disease clinical research services.
- KCR: KCR is a boutique CRO that has spent the last few years expanding through Europe, including Germany and UK, finding its feet and creating a more manageable presence.
- Parexel: In 2018, industry giant Parexel achieved $2.4 billion in revenues as it pursues cost-controlling measures and expansion into lower-cost emerging markets. While simultaneously forging partnerships with Eli Lilly to develop clinical research in China, and SHYFT to deliver better real-world data studies. In 2017, Parexel was bought by Pamplona, a private equity firm, which has served to bolster their profit margin as well as the quality of their market-leading services to biotechnology companies across the globe.