The changing environment within contract research organizations

Contract research is a growing industry, with more pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies depending on contract research organizations (CROs) to provide valuable expertise in drug development and clinical trials management. CROs are changing in response to the changing needs of their clients, competitive pressures in the industry, and the general increase in sophistication and scope of the opportunities. They are being asked to meet more complex needs, to generate and manage data more efficiently and to fully exploit new scientific teals and concepts. CROs are acquiring more expertise in therapeutic areas, in some cases more than the client. CROs are also expanding the breadth of their capabilities, from preclinical all the way through the clinical and post-marketing phases of drug development and into portfolio management, so that the larger CROs are taking on the complete development of indications or whole products. This paper describes some of the changes that have occurred and others expected in the future.