i3 Research, PPD, Kendle, Covance Rated Top CROs in Europe in 2010

 i3 Research, Kendle and Covance remain top-rated CROs in the 2010 CenterWatch European Site Survey. i3 Research outpaced other CROs this year to achieve a top CRO rating in overall relationship quality with investigative sites. PPD made a significant improvement compared with the 2008 survey and earned a second-place distinction in the 2010 survey, exhibiting strengths in organization/preparation, responsiveness to inquiries and demonstrating a supportive culture.

Vaccine Studies Growth Good for Sites, CROs

Vaccine sales are expected to double to $39 billion by 2013 as drug sponsors focus on vaccines as a growth area. Some vaccine-focused sites and CROs are reporting that vaccine studies have turned around their businesses after a difficult period. Sites that refine their processes in response to the demand for vaccine development work, particularly for studies that require enrolling a large number of participants during a short period of time, will have an edge up on the competition.

Eye On:  Brain Cancer

Although nearly 200,000 patients each year are diagnosed with brain cancer, only about 40,000 of these are primary brain tumors, and the rest are metastatic cancers arising from the breast, lung, colon, prostate or other distant organs. Among people under the age of 20 years, primary brain cancers are the leading cause of mortality from solid tumors. Peak age incidence of primary brain cancers is 45 to 65 years.

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