CRI Worldwide, Pacific Biometrics, Encorium Group and Cato research – Clinical contract news

CRI Worldwide​ has announced the completion of a "major" expansion of its research facility in Philadelphia, with the firm stating that it has nearly quadrupled its existing space, and can now conduct both inpatient and outpatient clinical trials, from early through to late stage, within the one facility. The company´s upgraded clinical unit, located within the Kirkbride Center, an acute care psychiatric hospital, features a new laboratory, exam rooms, patient consent rooms, inpatient clinical support, conference rooms, storage areas, a waiting room and physicians' offices. Six physicians, with central nervous system expertise ranging from pain to psychiatric disorders, will serve on the staff in a full-time capacity, the firm said. Also this past week, Pacific Biometrics​ announced that it has been awarded a series of contracts with a "top" multinational pharmaceutical company to provide laboratory data for a global Phase I and Phase II metabolic disease study. Under the deal, Pacific Biometrics has started providing the undisclosed firm with testing of metabolic markers and gut hormones on samples collected to support the sponsor's clinical development program. The company said that the testing programme is anticipated to run through to the first quarter of 2009, and additional studies may be added during this time. Overall, it is estimated to earn the firm $800,000. Pacific Biometrics said these contracts are part of a series of seven contracts related to clinical trials that form part of a global development program for a "new approach" for the treatment of type II diabetes and obesity. Meanwhile, Encorium Group​ has been given a $1.6m contract to run a Phase II trial on behalf of UK biopharma firm Protherics, for its novel immunotherapeutic hypertension vaccine, angiotensin therapeutic vaccine (ATV). Encorium will assist Protherics with program consulting, project management, site management and monitoring, data management and end-of-study medical report writing.​The two firms have been working together since last year on designing the protocol for the study. Kai Lindevall, Encorium's CEO said that the contract "gives Encorium the opportunity to work with a new client on the development of an exciting and innovative immunotherapeutic agent that lies at the interface between two of our greatest therapeutic area of strengths - cardiovascular disease and vaccines​". "This contract is the second in a series of new business awards that our company expects to announce over the next several weeks​." In other news, contract research organisation (CRO) Cato Research​ and biotechnology firm Advanced Targeting Systems​ (ATS) have formed a new alliance focused on the development and commercialisation of SP-SAP, ATS's lead drug candidate for chronic pain. Advanced Pain Therapeutics, a new development company formed by Cato Research, ATS, and Cato BioVentures, the venture capital affiliate of Cato Research, have secured exclusive, worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and market SP-SAP. Under the arrangement, Cato Research said it will provide clinical research services to the new company. "When we partner early, as we have here, we can make a major difference in the overall development of promising drug candidates such as SP-SAP​," said Lynda Sutton, COO of Cato Research and CEO of APT.