Sites smothered by technology solutions

Technology solutions help sponsors and CROs make better drug develop­ment decisions, streamline processes and reduce clinical trial costs. But for a majority of investigative sites, these same technologies get in the way of efficient op­erations and add to their already heavy workload. CenterWatch analysis suggests that in­vestigative sites are inundated with a grow­ing number of technologies that rarely in­teract with each other. Only 9% of global investigative sites surveyed report that technology solutions provided by sponsors and CROs to conduct clinical studies meet their operating needs “very well.”

Welcoming procurement onto the team

For decades, procurement profession­als have been the Rodney Danger­fields of the pharmaceutical industry: they got no respect. Procurement held up projects, got bogged down in protracted budget and contract negotiations, and was a hassle. The function is now changing. Pro­curement is moving from the back room to front and center. Searching for new ways to improve the effectiveness of their collaborations with CROs and investigative sites, sponsor companies are looking at the procure­ment function as a more strategic rela­tionship-driving asset. The role of pro­curement professionals is evolving from one focused almost exclusively on cost-savings and transactional activities to one focused more strategically on facilitating collaboration, innovation and efficiency.

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