QuintilesIMS awarded for site relationship work

20-Oct-2016 - Last updated on 25-Oct-2016 at 12:59 GMT

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The Society for Clinical Research Sites recently awarded QuintilesIMS with the 2016 Eagle Award, which recognizes contract research organizations (CRO) and sponsors focusing on site relationships.

INC Research, Medpace, PRA, and Target Health, were among the other CRO finalists this year. Novo Nordisk took home the 2016 Sponsor Eagle Award.

“Being selected by [Society for Clinical Research] sites for the fourth consecutive year is a tremendous honor,” Ralph Moussalli, QuintilesIMS Vice President and Global Head, Site and Patient Networks, told Outsourcing-Pharm.com.

When asked what steps the company takes to ensure strong site partnerships, Moussalli explained that the CRO employs a variety of strategies. “This includes investing in our Prime and Partner site network which helps to increase study volume, strengthen recruitment and data quality, and improve patient care in clinical trials,” he said.

According to Moussalli, the network is 30 days faster in time from site selection to initiation over non-partner sites and recruits patients, on average, 50% faster.

“We also continue to look for interactive ways to connect with sites and ensure two-way dialogue,” he explained. Some of these communication tools include the company’s quarterly Site Connect newsletter, investigator satisfaction surveys, and forums for sites to share experiences and insights.

“All of these communication strategies combined enable us to hear directly from professionals on the front lines of research so we can proactively provide solutions to their most pressing needs,” said Moussalli.

Overcoming the challenges

Moussalli said QuintilesIMS is focusing to make sure its site network has the resources it needs to be successful, as the healthcare landscape is increasingly complex, principal investigator participation is declining, and administrative burden on sites remains heavy.

“We are working on a number of initiatives to support sites to speed patient recruitment, reduce the administrative burden and drive patient-centricity in clinical trials,” he added.

Specifically, the company is working to address these challenges through its Precision Enrollment offering. “By building a network of more than 100 oncology centers across the U.S., we have designed a model to significantly accelerate site start-up and patient enrollment in oncology clinical trials,” said Moussalli.