Pharma hungry for Hungary trials, says Synexus

16-Aug-2010 - Last updated on 16-Nov-2023 at 09:59 GMT

Drug industry focus on clinical data quality, cost and speed is key driver for recent growth of Hungarian trials business says patient recruitment specialist Synexus.

In the six months to June 30, clinical trial activity at the Synexus’ Budapest unit increased 25 percent, making it one of the UK-headquartered firm’s busiest operations in Central and Easter Europe (CEE).

A spokesperson told Outsourcing-pharma the upswing, which means Synexus has recruited and randomized over 600 patients in the country, is indicative of an increased drug industry focus on low-cost, high-quality trial destinations.

“Pharma companies and CROs will now not spend $35,000 on signing up an individual investigator, 60 per cent of whom will sign up one patients or less,” he explained, adding that “sponsors are really focused on quality data, costs and speed.”

He went on to say that: “Eastern Europe, in particular, has proven to be very attractive with good medical practitioners, a large number of willing patients who want to be involved and an attractive cost base.”

The spokesman also predicted that going forward “Synexus Hungary will be involved in more global clinical trials” adding that the firm is confident it can continue to grow in the country.

Hungarian pharma

Growth of Synexus’ Hungarian patient recruitment business fits with observations about the likely expansion of the country’s pharmaceutical market over the next few years.

In May industry analysts Espicom predicted that despite being one of the most advanced markets in Central Europe, the Hungarian pharmaceutical industry will continue to grow at a “moderate CAGR” over the next five years.

This forecast is potentially very good news for global pharma manufacturers efforts to access developing markets given that, at present, around three quarters of the drugs used in Hungary are imported.

This trend makes it like that, in line with Synexus’ forecast, an increasing number of clinical trials will be undertaken in the country.

Further support for this idea comes from the growing number of contract research organisations (CRO) that have set up operations or partnered with companies already operating in the country.