Breaking News on Contract Research, Manufacturing & Clinical Trials

News in brief

Successful FDA inspection for NextPharma

02-Dec-2008 - NextPharma’s facility in Waltrop, Germany has undergone a successful inspection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Encorium publishes delayed financials

27-Nov-2008 - Troubled contract research organisation Encorium Group finally published its delayed financial results yesterday, posting a net loss of $3.9m, three times the year-earlier loss.

News in brief

Oncology CRO enters India

27-Nov-2008 - Contract Research Organisation (CRO) Oncology Services Europe (OSE) has entered the Indian market where it will offer clinical trials from Phase I through to IV.

News in brief

CRO seeks alliances to fuel growth

27-Nov-2008 - Spain-based CRO Sermes has outlined its expansion plans and signed a deal for use of clinical trial data management to help it achieve its goals.

Open-source EDC software gaining ground

27-Nov-2008 - An open-source software suit for electronic data capture (EDC) in clinical trials – OpenClinica - is starting to see a dramatic rise in usage, according to its developer Akaza Research.

News in brief

Biotech may turn to Indian for clinical trials

25-Nov-2008 - The Indian clinical trials market is predicted to continue its growth despite the current financial climate, according to a partner at Ernst & Young India’s Healthsciences Practice.

Tigermed, OCT and LSK to set up global trials network

25-Nov-2008 - Chinese CRO Tigermed Consulting has teamed up with Russian and South Korean counterparts OCT and LSK to establish a global clinical trials network and expand its geographic footprint.

More women now in clinical trials; study

25-Nov-2008 - The proportion of women in clinical trials has become more representative, although there are still areas for improvement, according to research by the FDA.

Encorium delays financial results

24-Nov-2008 - Clinical research organisation Encorium has postponed the release of its third quarter results but said it still expects the figures to be in line with its most up-to-date guidance.

Jubilant buys into EDC sector

24-Nov-2008 - India’s Jubilant Organosys has bolstered its mid-range contract research portfolio by buying Canadian electronic data capture (EDC) specialist TrialStat ClinicalAnalytics.

Icon secures data management deal with Lilly

19-Nov-2008 - Eli Lilly has continued its march down the outsourcing route and signed a wide-ranging deal with Ireland’s Icon plc in the area of data management.

etrials sees losses escalate; names new CEO

18-Nov-2008 - eClinical specialist etrials Worldwide saw its losses quadruple in the third quarter on the back of a dip in revenues and financial charges, including a $4m asset impairment charge related to goodwill.

Poland set to remove tax block for clinical trials

18-Nov-2008 - One of the obstacles to the development of Poland’s clinical research market is due to be removed next month, according to local consultancy firm Polish Market Research.

Adolescents are under-represented in clinical research

18-Nov-2008 - Recent European legislation designed to increase the number of children in clinical trials has had a positive impact in ensuring that paediatric patients are included in medicine testing.

China to benefit if India tightens clinical trial rules

17-Nov-2008 - A UK development think-tank has warned against a knee-jerk reaction against conducting clinical trials in India, following the revelation a few weeks ago that dozens of children had lost their lives in studies conducted at a contract research facility.

Mayo pulls out of clinical services

10-Nov-2008 - The world-reknowned Mayo Clinic has decided to shut down its Mayo Clinical Trial Services unit, saying it has been unable to compete in a marketplace shifting towards “low-cost, routine trials.”

Kendle’s income and cancellations surge

06-Nov-2008 - Kendle International has posted impressive third quarter results, despite seeing a dramatic increase in the number of contract cancellations during the period.

Clinical outsourcing market set to skyrocket, says Kalorama

04-Nov-2008 - Cost pressure and the increasing complexity of trials is forcing drugmakers to increasingly turn to outsourcing experts for clinical development, according to a Kalorama Information report.

PPD CEO funds conservative ad campaign

04-Nov-2008 - Fred Eshelman, CEO of PPD, has funded a conservative political group that has produced a controversial last minute campaign advert.

AMRI adds non-GMP capacity to Indian plant

04-Nov-2008 - An expansion of pilot plant facilities at its operations in Aurangabad, India will help Albany Molecular Research (AMRI) strengthen its position in the Asian drug development sector, according to CEO Thomas D’Ambra.

News in brief

CRO in Deloitte Fast 50 China

03-Nov-2008 - The companies in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 China 2008 have been revealed, with pharma and biotech having a healthy presence.

Parexel cuts revenue forecasts as earnings dip

03-Nov-2008 - Contract research organisation Parexel posted a 26 per cent hike in first quarter revenues to $263m but still failed to meet its own internal sales targets and saw net profits slide.

Tough times continue at PharmaNet

30-Oct-2008 - Clinical research specialist PharmaNet Development Group reported a decline in both sales and earnings for the third quarter but has kept its guidance for the financial year at the same level, albeit excluding an as-yet unresolved impairment charge.

Synexus expands in South Africa

30-Oct-2008 - Synexus is to more than double its clinical trial capacity in South Africa, in response to a successful couple of years in the nation.