Global CRO Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) has formalized relationships with eight investigator sites as part of a pediatric investigator network (PIN) the company has established to further enhance its pediatric clinical development capabilities.

This network—which includes world-renowned centers of excellence among its members—will provide biopharmaceutical companies with faster trial startup, more predictable patient enrollment and higher-quality data. PPD’s clients also will benefit from direct access to pediatric thought leaders and principal investigators across the globe.

The PPD PIN currently includes Columbia University, New York; LSU Health Shreveport; National Children’s Research Center at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Ireland; National Institute for Health Research/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; NHS Research Scotland; Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel; and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Pediatrics. The company plans to continue to expand this network by selecting and partnering with other centers of excellence worldwide that align with particular pediatric populations and research needs.

“Drugs intended for use in children require specific evaluation in the age groups where such use is recommended in product labels. In recent years we have seen increased development in pediatric patients related both to regulatory imperatives and to increased development activity in rare diseases where children and adolescents constitute at least half of those affected,” said Mark Sorrentino, M.D., executive medical director and chair of PPD’s pediatric practice area. “Our network already has been working effectively with our clients to provide state-of-the-art clinical trial delivery across the globe. Building formal relationships with strategically important centers that have significant pediatric clinical trial expertise, a proven track record of superior quality and the ability to recruit pediatric patients demonstrates our commitment to partnering with our clients to bring life-changing medications to market faster and at less cost.”

The network further advances PPD’s already robust pediatric capabilities, including the conduct of more than 300 studies in the past five years, which have enrolled more than 180,000 children and adolescents in a wide variety of indications. PPD also has a well-established pediatric practice area in place that brings together a cross-functional group of experts in pediatric development planning, consent and assent, and clinical trial design and implementation to support state-of-the-art clinical pharmaceutical development in children and adolescents.