Ecron Acunova teams up with Essential CRO and Biotrial
In the US, the Bangalore contract research organisation (CRO) has partnered with trial and recruitment firm Essential CRO, while in France it has teamed up with first-in-man specialist Biotrial.
Ecron and Essential have worked together for some time, landing a number of “eight figure” contracts with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms over the last six months.
These projects, as well as the obvious operational synergies and approach to trials that the firms share, played a big part in the decision to team up according to Ecron founder D Prasanna.
Prasanna explained that: “Essential’s therapeutic database of over 4,500 studies makes its feasibility truly unique, and its global patient recruitment expertise has unmatched results.”
He suggested that this expertise, coupled with Ecron’s PK/PD, central lab and biometric services, would have considerable speed and efficacy benefits for both firms’ clients, particularly in early drug development.
Lee Jones, Essential’s CEO, also stressed the time benefits the partnership will provide for customers.
“Our combined size of 350 employees and corporate cultures of fast, focused, friendly and flexible relationship management ensure that the alliance maintains the ability to meet unique sponsor needs in a timely manner.”
Biotrial deal
While at an earlier stage than the Essential accord, Ecron’s deal with Rennes-based CRO Biotrial is also a significant expansion of the Indian firm’s presence in key global research markets.
The partnership, reported by the Pharmabiz website last Friday, will focus on early phase clinical development, although the specifics of the collaboration have not yet been revealed.
