Parexel International, a global biopharmaceutical services provider, has announced the continued expansion of its clinical trial Site Alliance Network, an extensive network of investigator sites and site management organizations (SMOs) that enables Parexel to quickly access and enroll patient populations for clients' clinical trials worldwide.

Patient recruitment is one of the most significant clinical trial challenges. Difficulties in patient enrollment delay 81% of clinical trials one to six months, with another 5% postponed six months or more.

To address this challenge, Parexel developed its Site Alliance network, currently consisting of more than 180 members plus several SMOs, together providing access to approximately 6,000 investigators worldwide. The SMOs alone have a combined database of 7.5 million patients in more than 25 countries. The network's size and scope enable faster patient recruitment, evaluation and enrollment in clinical trials; foster greater collaboration between Parexel and sites on behalf of clients; and ensure quality across multiple sites.

"Recruiting and enrolling patients is a fundamental and critical need in clinical trials. Recruitment difficulties can translate into lost revenue and significant delays in getting new, cutting edge medicines to patients," said Mark A. Goldberg, M.D., president and chief operating officer, Parexel. "Through our extensive Site Alliance network, Parexel has the quality relationships and expertise to provide a solution to this challenge and help our clients meet their clinical trial recruiting and enrollment needs."

Recently, Parexel used one of its Site Alliance network partners to recruit more than 8,250 people across 40 sites for a phase III clinical trial. The team was able to randomize the first patient within five weeks—several months ahead of schedule—helping create a cost saving of close to 40%.

"Parexel has developed a strategic and relationship-driven approach to address one of the most critical challenges in the clinical trials journey—the patient enrollment process," said Paul Evans, vice president and global head, feasibility and enrollment solutions, Parexel. "Through our Site Alliance network, we're better able to help pharmaceutical companies improve patient enrollment and accelerate the pace of clinical trials—making it possible to reduce time to market."