CRO BioReliance Enters Tech-Development

From Proteo Monitor:

Contract research organization BioReliance this month launched a new array service for the screening of non-human antigens in animal serum, the first fruit of a new technology-development strategy the company embarked upon after being sold by Invitrogen last year

The array platform, called ReliArray, currently in beta testing and available only to select customers, will formally debut in January, replacing the ELISA technology currently being used by BioReliance for serological testing.

Read the rest of this article here.

CRO Stock Prices Going Down

This recent report, states that even though Contract Research Organizations have been reporting that their quarterly goals have been meet or exceeded, with the current market meltdown, this information is apparently not seen as relevant to investors. One reason cited for the stock prices of these corporations going down, despite company affirmations that they are fine, is the weakening dollar. Either way, it seems that short term investments are out of the questions.

Clincal Trials in India

The Indian government recently has given the okay for phase I human clinical trials to be performed in India. This has led many to expect that the Contract Research Organization Industry, in India, will grow from being worth $200 million in 2007 to an estimated $600 million by 2010. There is one thing that could be preventing this estimate from coming true as remarked upon in this article. As Dr. S M Sapatnekar, dean and director of CREMA stated:

“The technology is constantly growing, and India is fast becoming a new hub for trials due to large patient population and strict compliance with the guidelines. However there is a serious dearth of researchers”

As an Ernst and Young report pointed out, 1000 students each year pass as researchers in India, however, by 2010 to keep up with demand, they will need 15,000 clinical researchers.

Role of LIMS

This article from Bio-IT World reminds that it is important for CRO’s to use high-performance laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Sponsor companies and CRO’s who use LIMS, will see a lower “barrier entry” when dealing with regulatory agencies in respective countries. LIMS are helpful in gathering, analyzing and storing data for the CRO’s sponsors. It is especially important to be aware of regulations since on average bringing a new drug to market takes 15 years, and costs $2 billion.

Chiltrem Early Phase has been fully integrated

Announced today in this Market Watch article, Chiltrem, a contract research organization, has been able to integrate their two early phase units into one cohesive unit: Chiltrem Early Phase. This was needed after the acquisition of Drug Development Solutions this past February.

Dr Brian Sanderson, Medical Director of Chiltern Early Phase had this to say:

"I am delighted to see the integration completed so thoroughly and ahead of schedule. We are now looking to build on our units' long histories of good science and medicine, both in the areas where we have traditionally been strong but also in new areas of specialization such as diabetes and cardiovascular medicine. We are also looking forward to forging academic links to provide specialist studies involving new biomarkers."