The deals give B-MS the extra capacity it believes is needed to cope with an expected spike in clinical development. This spike is a consequence of compounds from its “robust internal pipeline” and “significant inlicensing activity” passing through clinical trials, said B-MS.
Icon and Parexel will provide the big pharma with “support for full development activities”, a B-MS spokesperson told Outsourcing-Pharma. B-MS said Icon and Parexel will support its in-house capabilities and capacity with services that “can drive efficiency and cost savings”.
Services covered by the deals include site management, data handling and monitoring of clinical studies for Phase IIb to IV trials. The spokesperson was unable to say how work will be divided between Icon and Parexel.
B-MS has inked three-year deals with both contract research organisations (CRO). The spokesperson said B-MS is outsourcing to two CROs, as opposed to one, because it believes it is “the best way to channel volume of work while ensuring some level of risk mitigation”.
Icon and Parexel were chosen “based on their expertise, global reach, governance structure, willingness to partner, as well as their commitment to continuous improvement”, said the spokesperson.
“Over the last ten years, we have forged a strong partnership by working hard to fully understand B-MS’ unique requirements”, said John Hubbard, Icon group president clinical research services.
Josef von Rickenbach, chairman and CEO of Parexel, said the partnership “is representative of leading models for outsourcing” and that it can “increase efficiency and create significant value”.