Parexel International, a global biopharmaceutical services provider, has enhanced its end-to-end clinical development services through a new process called Clinical Development Optimization. The Parexel Clinical Development Optimization process uses advanced technology to help expedite drug development through all four critical stages of clinical development—design, startup, trial execution and submission.

Two significant challenges in clinical trials today are patient recruitment and protocol-related delays. Forty-eight percent of sites miss enrollment targets, and study timelines often are extended to almost double their original length to meet enrollment levels Additionally, on average, two to three protocol amendments can delay a trial by two months, with each amendment adding $500,000 in additional costs.

“Challenges in clinical trials can translate into lost revenue and significant delays in getting new, cutting edge medicines to patients,” said Sy Pretorius, M.D., chief scientific officer, Parexel. “To help clients overcome these challenges, we applied our advanced technology services and systems to the clinical development process. The result is data we can leverage to improve protocol design, patient recruitment, site selection and feasibility, and analysis and reporting for our clients.”