The alliance, called the National Drug Development Accelerator, currently consists of 13 companies, covering services from preclinical through to regulatory consulting.
With support from KansasBio the Accelerator alliance has developed investment and incentive programmes in an attempt to encourage more outsourcing companies to the region.
These would supplement the existing companies, which include Quintiles, SAFC Biosciences and Bayer Healthcare, increasing the range of services offered by the Accelerator.
Even without additional companies the Accelerator believes it offers a good array of services, claiming that its companies having been involved in the development of more than 50 top drugs.
Angela Kreps, president of KansasBio, commented: "Kansas' collection of companies is the answer to the emerging outsourcing trend among pharmaceutical companies.
“During the last 5 years as pharmaceutical companies have increased outsourcing, and when development budgets are enduring additional scrutiny related to return on investment, our companies are busy bringing the biggest new drugs to market. We will continue to define the value proposition in a tenuous economy."
The Accelerator believes that since its members are geographically concentrated in the same area pharmaceutical companies can make savings by outsourcing to the alliance.
It claims outsourcing to the Accelerator will improve efficiency and see programmes completed faster. In addition, Kansas’ low cost of living, central location and good access to either coast make it an attractive location to outsource to.