Tigermed Consulting, Lifetree Clinical Research, Synexus and Anapharm – Clinical contract news
clinical contract community of late, involving Tigermed Consulting,
Lifetree Clinical Research, Synexus and Anapharm.
It has been revealed that Tigermed Consulting has joined fellow Chinese firms Sundia Meditech, United PharmaTech and HD BioSciences in their CRO service alliance (CROSA). The three firms first entered into the partnership in May 2007 in order to provide a more exhaustive range of chemistry and biology drug development services to pharma companies worldwide. It was the first alliance of its kind in China. European CRO NovaSecta joined the alliance in February 2008 to further integrate the alliance's work with European pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Commenting on this week's announcement, the four firms said that Tigermed's expertise in clinical development "complements the existing drug discovery and pharmaceutical development capabilities of the alliance". Tigermed provides clinical development services, data management and statistical support to multinational and smaller to medium sized pharmaceutical and biotech companies in US, Europe and Asia and is also a leader in performing clinical trials in China on new chemical entities (NCEs), "which makes it an excellent potential partner" for the pharmaceutical and biotech companies that the alliance works with, they added. "Through the addition of Tigermed to the alliance, clients can now benefit from a seamlessly integrated full R&D service covering discovery, non-clinical and clinical development". Meanwhile, Lifetree Clinical Research has now added bioanalytical services to its repertoir in the form of Lifetree Bioanalytical, a full-service, good laboratory practice (GLP)-compliant bioanalytical facility that will support Lifetree Clinical Research and its clients during drug development. New services include GLP LC/MS/MS bioanalysis in support of pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies, proof of concept, first-in-man single ascending dose, first in man multiple ascending dose, preclinical and clinical bioavailability, dose proportionality, food effects and drug-drug interaction. In addition, the company can also now provide non-GLP LC/MS/MS bioanalysis in support of bioavailability, in vivo metabolite identification, metabolic stability (microsomes, plasma), in vitro metabolite identification, plasma protein binding, biomarker monitoring and tissue distribution (non-radiolabelled). "By adding bioanalytical services, we're ensuring seamless sample transfer and rapid turnaround of critical data to our clients at a competitive rate," said company CEO Alice Jackson. Lifetree Bioanalytical vice president Kevin Jessing added: "Our staff is comprised of scientists with an abundance of both pharmaceutical and contract lab experience. We take a knowledge-based approach to bioanalysis, which capitalises on data produced in the early discovery and preclinical phases. "This unique approach greatly increases operating efficiency and lowers the cost of method development and validation during clinical investigations." In addition, Anapharm, a subsidiary of PharmaNet Development Group, has entered into a consortium with BCF Certification, a member of the BCF, LLP group - a firm with more than 125 lawyers and patent and trademark agents - to provide turn-key services to life sciences companies. The combined organisations will target the medical device and nutraceutical industries to assist clients in bringing their products to global markets. Through the partnership, BCF Certification will assist Canadian and international companies in meeting regulatory, quality and clinical requirements. Anapharm's part of the deal involves providing clinical development consulting, clinical trial and laboratory services. The two firms said that together they will offer "a one-stop-shop for full services" including due diligence, risk exposure management and assessment. "Emerging life sciences companies can benefit from the experience and expertise of seasoned professionals", said Johane Boucher Champagne, president and CEO of Anapharm. "We believe that by providing a multidisciplinary service offering, we can help accelerate the market entry and commercialisation of clients' products." Louis-Paul Marin, vice-president of BCF Certification added: "By consolidating our services, we spare our clients the burden of having to manage and juggle an array of consultants. In short, we assist our clients in achieving their global market penetration objectives while saving them time, resources and energy." In other related news, Synexus said that it has "significantly increased" its capacity to recruit and run global osteoporosis trials by increasing the number of DEXA scanners at its hub sites by a third. According to the American College of Radiology the DEXA scan is the most reliable way of identifying osteoporosis and is the best test for measuring bone mineral density, the firm said. "We have dramatically increased our capacity in the area of osteoporosis due to demand from our clients. With our network of fourteen clinics in the UK, Eastern Europe, South Africa and India we are able to randomise thousands of patients", said Michael Fort, CEO of Synexus. In addition to this, Synexus has provided heel scanners to hundreds of primary care practices in order to boost enrolment in osteporosis trials and in doing so, protect its investment. Dr Ian Smith, medical director and founder of the company said: "The heel scan is a quick, easy and cost effective way of determining whether there is a likelihood of osteoporosis. All the patients who have an elevated reading are then offered a DEXA scan at one of our hub sites in order to make a definitive diagnosis."
