INC Research CEO elected as 2015 ACRO Chairman
“I am pleased to lead ACRO at a time when our industry is exerting its voice on important policy matters in the US, Europe and globally while also strengthening our relationships with research sponsors and sites,” Macdonald said. “We see further opportunities in the year ahead to build deeper connections into the research site and patient communities.”
Macdonald will replace Icon CEO Ciaran Murray as the ACRO chairman. Murray told us last year that he expects more steady growth from the outsourcing industry in the near-term, especially when compared to the more drastic growth in the years prior.
Macdonald also highlighted some of ACRO’s 2014 accomplishments, including: advocating to expand the US Research & Development tax credit to CROs, which died in the Senate Finance Committee before reaching a vote, as well as the 21st Century Cures initiative, which aims to amend the federal drug and device approval apparatus to keep it up to speed with research developments.
John Lewis, SVP of ACRO, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com that ACRO is meeting with staff from the House Energy and Commerce committee to discuss some of the Cures legislation, though he did not elaborate further.
ACRO also has been busy representing CRO interests in the implementation of the European Clinical Trials Regulation; the formation of the CRO Forum to interact with TransCelerate Biopharma; and conducting research on the growth and expertise of the CRO industry.
“ACRO members represent more than two-thirds of contract biopharmaceutical research activity globally and we expect to further increase our membership this year as more CROs see the value of active participation in the association,” said ACRO Executive Director Doug Peddicord.
ACRO also elected Judd Hartman, General Counsel of PPD, as Secretary; and Christopher Gaenzle, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of INC Research, as Treasurer.
