Strategies For A More Secure Outsourcing Bottom Line

A panel of experts from across the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry recently shared their experiences in mitigating financial risk before partnering with a contract research organization (CRO). They noted the critical role of sponsors in setting a CRO team up to succeed, beginning with meticulous contract review during the partner selection process. In this rapidly shifting environment, “slowing the burn” must start with better understanding and management of the underlying drivers that can make or break a partnership.

In addition to establishing clear expectations, it is important to think through how to simplify implementation and to realistically assess whether patients and sites are capable of the activities required by a trial. For example, many trial failures result from errors during the planning stage, not just from poor implementation. Sometimes the protocol is too complex, patients are asked to do too much, and/or sites are overburdened.

“Slowing the burn” starts with understanding the shifting pharmaceutical landscape, prioritizing healthy and productive relationships with partners, and carefully considering the ways we can make clinical programs a good experience for all involved.