US interactive response technology firm Cenduit has launched a new study simulation and forecasting service that it claims lets sponsors and sites plan and control supplies. CEO Jogin Desai set the move in the context of the North Carolina-based company’s existing technologies.
“The simulation and forecasting models, integrated with the patient randomization and drug allocation services inherent in our IRT systems, allow the complete coordination of procurement, packaging and logistics, with supply requirements from the sites themselves continuously factored in.”
He added that the new service further minimizes the risk of drug supply overage and outages at sites by allowing clinical trial supply coordinators to test different supply scenarios before implementing them and to identify in advance the risks associated with any supply strategy.
Perceptive Informatics has opened a customer care centre in Shanghai, China to serve both local customers and those based in Taiwan.
The eClinical firm – which is a subsidiary of contract research organization Parexel – said the office’s Mandarin and English speaking staff will provide support for trials that are using its ClinPhone RTSM and Datalabs EDC software and services.
George Hunnewell, Corporate Vice President, Operations, Perceptive Informatics, said: “China has a thriving pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and is a priority market for many pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors.
“Through our experience in running hundreds of global clinical trials, we have identified that a robust, native-language help desk is critical to ensuring the smooth and successful implementation of clinical trial technology."
INC Research has set up a new consultation unit for drug R&D and commercialisation. The ‘Research Strategic Advisory Services’ group will advise sponsors on drug development, commercialization, regulatory submissions and quality assurance issues.
The CRO's strategic management services division Avos Consulting – which it acquired in 2011 – will operate as part of the new business unit.
Tim Dietlin, Senior Vice President, Global Consulting and Strategic Alliances and head of the new unit, said: “Working as an integrated team gives our expert advisors better visibility into our customers' product development lifecycles and needs, enabling a true strategic partnership to evolve.
“This model allows greater flexibility and agility to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges and offer a broader range of perspectives and options for how to best address them."
Spaulding Clinical Research’s late stage ECG services – which are based on its Spaulding webECGTM Diagnostic ECG Management system – will be available to customers of specialist CRO Blinded Diagnostics under a new collaboration agreement.
Spaulding spokesman Kevin Geno said: “We are very pleased with the relationship that we have built with Blinded Diagnostics. They are a knowledgeable and professional organization and will represent Spaulding’s unique service offerings well. We are confident in their ability to deliver customer-focused solutions to this select group of pharmaceutical companies.”
Blinded Diagnostics CEO Steve Karuppan was similarly upbeat, describing the Spaulding Model 1000iQ Electrocardiograph as “an innovative and effective point of care 12-lead ECG device for use in clinical trials.”
Karuppan added that: “we are particularly impressed by the Spaulding webECG data storage capability, analysis solutions and connectivity features for use in centralizing cardiac safety data from phase II-IV global trials.”