Will the part-time site landscape finally consolidate?

As sponsors have begun to focus on improving the cost and efficiency of study conduct, the investigative site landscape has become more unstable. The proportion of part-time, community-based investigators has remained extremely high: during the past five years only 3% of all active investigators conducted more than an average of four clinical trials each year, according to a new CenterWatch analysis.

Many smaller CROs thrive as mid-tier consolidation intensifies

In a world of trickle-down economics, many niche and mid-sized CROs currently report solid growth—a major change from just five years ago when only large CROs prospered amid a rising concern emerging firms would not survive. In that time, leading CROs grew their portfolios as full service providers (FSP)—enabling them to support specific functional areas—and as strategic integrated partners with major biopharmaceutical companies.