2008 a growth year says Germany’s XClinical

16-Apr-2009 -  Germany’s XClinical says 2008 was a successful year with a 20 per cent hike in revenues for its electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data/trial management (CDM/CTM) software. 

Radiant broadens Indian clinical research Spectrum

14-Apr-2009 -  Cincinnati, US site management organisation (SMO) Radiant Research says that growing industry demand for trials outside the US is the key motivation for the link up with India’s Spectrum Clinical Research. 

News in brief

Some CROs benefiting more than others

14-Apr-2009 -  While CROs are “reaping the benefits” of the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to save money, certain types of clinical research are being farmed out more often than others, according to a news report by Cutting Edge Information. 

CROs pursue international expansion

09-Apr-2009 -  The past few days have seen a string of announcements from contract research organisations (CROs) which indicate that their appetite for international expansion and development remains unsated. 

CardioNet breaks into CRO sector with Biotel buy

08-Apr-2009 -  US company CardioNet, which specialises in mobile cardiac monitoring devices, has made a foray into the contract research sector with a $14m offer to acquire cardiovascular research firm Biotel.

Pfizer awarded for human rights in research

07-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer has become the first drugmaker to win accreditation for protecting the human rights of subjects enrolled into early-stage clinical trials under a scheme operated by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). 

Systems Biology Worldwide buys 4Pharma

25-Mar-2009 -  Contract drug development group Systems Biology Worldwide (SBW) says the acquisition of Finnish data management specialist 4Pharma will facilitate its entry into the clinical trials sector.

Richmond launches new data management offering

11-Mar-2009 -  UK CRO Richmond Pharmacology has unveiled a new data management offering for the drug industry that it claims will help trial sponsors cut costs, save time and help guarantee data integrity. 

etrials CEO says ‘08 was ‘challenging’

10-Mar-2009 -  eClinical company etrials saw losses increase in the fourth quarter of 2008, but pointed to a healthy increase in orders as evidence of the underlying strength of the business. 

"Fundamentals for contract research remain strong," says F&S' Barath Shankar

05-Mar-2009 - With M&A activity dominating Big Pharma's agenda at the moment, the contract research market is having to evolve and adapt to the turbulent environmnet. Outsourcing-pharma asked Frost & Sullivan analyst Barath Shankar to offer his opinion on the state of the sector and to predict how it will develop.

Struggling PharmaNet launches new flexible staffing service

05-Mar-2009 -  US CRO PharmaNet hopes its new trial staffing service will provide an additional revenue stream and help stave-off plummeting 2008 incomes and compensate for a series of painful contract cancellations.

Slowdown affecting rebranded eResearch Technology

04-Mar-2009 -  Cardiology and eClinical specialist eResearch Technology missed analysts estimates of sales and earnings in the fourth quarter of 2008, but still posted a near-14 per cent increase in operating profit. 

Synexus opens new Bulgarian site for secondary care trials

26-Feb-2009 -  Synexus' new trial site in Bulgaria, which is part of the firm’s clinical research centre strategy, will help sponsors cut development times and significantly reduce costs, according to CEO Michael Fort.

Kendle earnings hit by computer error

26-Feb-2009 -  Kendle International posted a 22 per cent drop in net income to $5m, after a computer error led to problems with a clinical trial carried out for one of its customers. 

Trial sites call for more EDC and recruitment investment

19-Feb-2009 -  Study site operators want greater use of EDC technologies and more pharma industry investment to boost patient recruitment and reduce delays in clinical trials, according to an industry report due to be published next week. 

Bio-Imaging Tech dips into the red in Q4

18-Feb-2009 -  Contract research organisation Bio-Imaging Technologies posted a 48 per cent hike on revenues in the fourth quarter of 2008, but still made a small net loss on the back of its CapMed division, which was sold last month. 

etrials adds competitor Unithink to confidentiality case

16-Feb-2009 -  US software specialist etrials Worldwide has added Belgian rival Unithink to an ongoing lawsuit that accuses two former executives, Robert Sammis and Brendon Ball, of breaching confidentiality agreements.

Charles River cuts preclinical jobs in global gloom

12-Feb-2009 -  Charles River Laboratories will reduce its workforce by 3 per cent, close its preclinical facility in Arkansas, US and sell off its Phase I trial site in Edinburgh, Scotland as part of a cost reduction programme. 

Compass points to excipient elimination through microfilling

11-Feb-2009 -  Compass Pharma Services is targeting contract drug developers and clinical research firms with a new microfilling offering that, it claims, helps reduce waste and may even make excipients unnecessary in some drugs. 

Russia’s clinical sector on the up

09-Feb-2009 -  Russia approved 615 clinical trials last year, a 9 per cent increase over 2007, lending weight to the notion that the country is becoming a global hub for clinical testing.

PRA expands in Asia-Pacific

05-Feb-2009 -  US company PRA International has entered into a strategic collaboration with two contract research organizations (CROs) in Southeast Asia in order to tap the fast-growing clinical research market in the region.

Covance expands in CEE, Middle East

05-Feb-2009 -  Covance has expanded its presence in central and eastern Europe and Middle East with the opening of offices in Ukraine, Slovakia and Israel. 

Azopharma phases in Phase 0 offering

02-Feb-2009 -  US contract development firm Azopharma has begun offering microdosing at its AvivoClin facility in Daytona Beach, Florida, joining market leaders like Xeleron and Covance in the Phase 0 trial sector.

Bio-Imaging Tech sells CapMed to focus on clinical

08-Jan-2009 -  Contract research organisation Bio-Imaging Technologies has decided to sell off its CapMed subsidiary in order to focus its efforts on its core business, providing imaging series to clinical investigators.