Globalisation of clinical trials has driven the need for tools that can integrate these geographically diverse operations. By collaborating with SAS and Hewlett-Packard Kendle believes it has made a significant improvement in this area.
“The importance of being able to quickly and easily work with study data from any time zone cannot be overstated”, John Whitaker, vice president, biostatistics and statistical programming, explained to Outsourcing-Pharma.
Whitaker added that the new platform is particularly beneficial for Kendle’s operations in India. The old statistical system, which was in place for more than 10 years, was PC-based and this meant large amounts of information had to be transferred for processing on individual computers.
All processing is now performed by servers within Kendle’s network and consequently smaller amounts of information, such as screenshots, are transferred, resulting in comparable performance at all global offices without the need for increased bandwidth.
Furthermore, reducing the need for large data transfers, which are a potential point where security could be breached, helps ensure information remains confidential. Data is stored behind a firewall and access is limited to the biostatistics department and controlled at the project level.
Clients will not be able to access the system, added Whitaker who explained that historically there has been no need for them to view it for analysis. However, Kendle can post data and analysis from the system to a location accessible by the client for periodic reporting.
In a press statement Whitaker added: “This investment allows Kendle to provide a more globally integrated solution to meet our customers' needs anywhere, any time." Launch of the new system will be seamless to customers, according to Kendle.