Euro Sites Rate Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim Top Sponsors in 2010

According to the 2010 CenterWatch European Site Survey, European investigative sites identified Abbott Laboratories and Boehringer Ingelheim as top sponsors for overall relationship quality. Strong performances were driven by communication efficiencies, a team-oriented supportive culture, professional staff, and project-specific attributes such as effective protocol design and grant payment processes.

GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk and AstraZeneca also achieved high ratings. Wyeth—a top sponsor in the 2008 survey—still delivered strong results but was edged out.

Advantages and Challenges of Site Groups

For investigative sites, the benefits of being part of a group are many.Most importantly, site groups offer sites access to more clinical trial opportunities.

Being part of a site group does not, however, eliminate challenges at the investigative site level. Sites still have to deal with grant payment delays, monitor turnover and other issues.

Eye On: Acute and Chronic Pain

Pain is a highly prevalent symptom associated with many acute and chronic conditions, such as postoperative state, trauma, cancer and rheumatologic, orthopedic, vascular, and neurological conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are approximately 72 million ambulatory and inpatient procedures    performed annually in the United States, and nearly 100% of surgical patients experience postoperative pain. Of these, half to three quarters have inadequate pain relief. Chronic pain lasting at least six months affects up to 50 million people in the United States each year. Approximately 40% of those with moderate to severe pain have inadequate relief of their pain, according to a survey by the American Pain Society.

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