Contract research news in brief
pharmafile | January 19, 2010 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Bioanalytical Systems, Charles River Laboratories, Invivodata, Quintiles, ReSearch Pharmaceutical, ReSearch Pharmaceutical Se Invivodata, Synomics PharmaÂ
Our round-up of developments in the world of outsourced R&D includes job losses at Charles River, India’s SIRO Clinpharma buying a European CRO and a new chief executive for the Encorium group.
Charles River Laboratories has said the tough operating environment for contract preclinical service has forced it to temporarily shut down a facility in Massachusetts operated by its Preclinical Services (PCS) division, with the loss of 300 jobs. The closure will take place in a few months – after its existing work has been completed – and will restart when the market picks up. The measure is designed to cut operating costs by $20 million in 2010.
Quintiles has teamed up with clinical data specialist Invivodata to improve the handling of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in clinical trials. Changes to regulatory guidelines mean that PRO data are increasingly being gathered in trials in order to provide more information on a drug’s effects from a patient perspective, according to the two companies. The agreement formalises the relationship between the firms. Invivodata’s PRO technology, including handheld reporting devices, has already been used in more than 20 Quintiles studies to date.
India’s SIRO Clinpharm has acquired German CRO Omega Mediation Group, a specialist in phase II-IV testing, to boost its presence in the European clinical research market. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The transaction includes Omega’s offices in Germany, Greece, Estonia and Israel, all of which will be renamed SIRO Clinpharm but will operate independently of their Indian parent with the current management teams remaining in place. The combined turnover of the two firms is approximately $45 million.
Dr Kai Lindevall has been re-appointed chief executive of contract research organisation (CRO) Encorium, having held the post in 2008 before becoming president of Encorium’s Europe and Asia operations. The last chief executive, David Ginsberg, left the firm last year to head up US division of Italian CRO Pierrel after it acquired Encorium’s US clinical trial operations. Meanwhile, board member Shahab Fatheazam has also been named group chairman.
Contract clinical services provider ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services has signed a lease for new premises in Fort Washington, Philadelphia, to cater for an expansion in its headcount by up to 100 staff. The new building is adjacent to its current US headquarters and the extra space will help it serve a major new contract.
Synomics Pharma, a specialist in bioanalysis and analytical chemistry, has teamed up with fellow US company BioScience Laboratories to provide integrated phase I trial services in healthy human subjects. Synomics’ expertise in laboratory analyses complements the BioScience Labs experience in running clinical trials, said the partners.
US CRO Bioanalytical Systems Inc (BASi) posted a net loss of $5.5 million on revenues of $31.8 million, down 24%, in 2009. The downturn in the business, which was exacerbated by the sale of BASi’s phase I clinical operations in 2008, resulted from a lower demand for services, high cancellation rates and “significant project delays,” according to chief financial officer Michael Cox.
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