Dr. Jeffrey Adelglass

I am pleased to have the opportunity this month to thank CenterWatch and our readers for the opportunity to share my views on the exciting changes in the site community over the last two and a half years. It is with great pleasure that I transition the Pulse column to Christophe Berthoux, CEO of the global site management organization, Synexus, as a contributing writer. As was announced in the CenterWatch Weekly on March 7, Research Across America has been acquired by Synexus. This landmark event is an important step in the continued growth of the dedicated research site model as an innovative solution to deliver more efficient and patient-centric clinical research and the RAA team was proud to help set the stage for expansion of globally-based site networks.

My new role is chief medical consultant to Synexus Americas. I will have the privilege to help nurture the collaboration between our U.S. and global research sites. Our team and Synexus sites will work hand-in-hand to help facilitate site relationships. We will use years of expertise to globally identify unique and distinct capabilities for performing international studies. These studies are a new model but have the same focus—being the patient’s choice for clinical research.

From the perspective of the site community, this transaction is but another example of the benefits of growth in the site landscape. It solidifies the reality that there are many new directions for sites to contribute to the ever more global clinical development enterprise. These varied prospects of opportunity include CRO-based site acquisitions, stronger site networks and preferred site programs.

Industry experts such as Edgemont Capital Partners continue to predict that the fragmentation of the site industry will remain in crisp focus now and in the near future. The consolidation of sites is predicted to be emphasized to achieve economies of scale. I have 30 years of experience performing clinical trials. As far back as 20 years ago, I have seen attempts at new models of site performance. We now see the maturity and necessity of new ways of thinking and executing on a consolidated site model.

Jeffrey Adelglass, M.D., F.A.C.S. is chief medical consultant, Synexus Americas. Email comments and questions to jeffadel@gmail.com.

Dr. Christophe Berthoux

I would like to express my thanks to Dr. Adelglass as I take on my new contributing writer responsibilities with zest! I  look forward to sharing thoughts and experiences with the site community, bringing focus to pivotal site issues, such as greater attention from the site to patient centricity, clinical trials awareness across the globe and the “business” of building a successful and customer-focused site operation. I am enthused to discuss emerging issues, for example, how sites can develop a more collegial and international approach.

Never has the dedicated research model seen such attention and focus on imperatives to leverage our full potential. Some say this focus by the industry will be a “flash in the pan,” and the attractiveness of involving sites more directly in study planning, protocol review and recruitment will be out of vogue in time. I don’t think so. We are on the cusp of seizing our place and contributing to innovation in the research community as a whole. I believe that strong encouragement and unity from site leaders around the world is warranted and timely.

The creation of site process- and purpose-built models that provide the best experience possible for patients is key to our success in the future. Gaining momentum with true patient centricity has been an ambition, but today it is becoming a reality. As sites, we are executing on the concept through shared experiences and heightened awareness. Our patients benefit and become more engaged in research.

In future columns, I plan to touch on the need to bring larger numbers of patients to a smaller cadre of therapeutically focused sites and talk about how we can work together to reduce the recruitment bottleneck that plagues our industry. This is one of the most effective ways we can deliver for our customers. As sites, our opinions on such topics and our continued attention to key issues has never been more important. Together, we can make a difference.

Keep your eye on site industry innovation. Step forward to volunteer, to take part in expert discussions and form your own new networks to be truly in the game. Instinctively, I would say now is the time to think beyond the day-to-day challenges we all face in the clinical trial endeavor and test boundaries for growth, whether you are an independent site, site network, or part of a more globally organized and customer focused group.  

Dr. Christophe Berthoux has been the chief executive officer at Synexus since September 2010. Synexus is the world’s leading site management organization (SMO), dedicated to the recruitment and management of clinical trials across the globe for over 24 years. Email comments and questions to sarah@vanepercy.com.

This article was reprinted from CWWeekly, a leading clinical research industry newsletter providing expanded analysis on breaking news, study leads, trial results and more. Subscribe »