Sized out of big deals, mid-tier CROs still thriving

As the largest drug sponsors increasingly adopt more integrated and strategic outsourcing relationships with top CROs, the small and mid-sized CROS have largely been left behind. Yet, surprisingly, the companies in this smaller market segment are far from struggling. Many small and mid-tier CROs report record revenues for last year and growth rates higher than the CRO industry average, which analysts estimate at around 5%. There can be no doubt that widespread adoption of functional service provider (FSP) and alliance relationships has…

Industry leaders embrace disruptive innovations

Amidst a growing consensus among drug developers that the current R&D paradigm is unsustainable, an industry notoriously resistant to change has begun to challenge the business models of the past and explore innovative approaches to drug development. Industry leaders realize they need to explore new approaches for advancing drug development as R&D costs continue to soar while productivity has dropped; ideas for change include precompetitive data sharing, open-source clinical development, new uses of technology and an unprecedented move toward collaboration. “The pharmaceutical industry is at a crossroads,” said Novartis Pharma…

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