Sharp inks preferred partnership with CMO to reduce clinical trial complexity
Sharp – part of UDG Healthcare – provides contract packaging and clinical supply services. The company this week confirmed a preferred partner agreement with the fill/finish contract manufacturing organization (CRMO) Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing (BSM).
The agreement bolsters Sharp’s ability to provide sterile fill/finish clinical manufacturing services and gives BSM clients access to clinical trial supply and management services, including analytical testing, stability, clinical and commercial packaging, serialization, IRT services, QP services, storage as well as distribution.
Dan Gourley, senior director, Global Logistics for Sharp Clinical US, sad the companies wanted to address clients’ needs by providing sterile manufacturing through to delivery of clinical trial materials to sites.
“This partnership simplifies our clients' supply chain in that they can work with one contracted provider for all of these activities,” he told us, adding that the companies have worked together in the past and have several current projects underway.
The partnership agreement comes into effect immediately and is evergreen, Gourley said.
“Through this agreement, we are harmonizing how we work together and by having a single point of contact for our combined services, we reduce ‘friction’ for our clients,” he added.
As an example, Gourley explained that reciprocal vendor audits conducted by Sharp and BSM would negate the requirement for clients to conduct individual audits.
He added, “We aspire to reduce the time, cost and complexity of managing clinical trials and strategic partnerships like this are a vital element of working towards that goal.”
