Published in Applied Clinical Trials Online, September 2009 ghost written for David Levin

Strategic relationships with CROs have typically been the exclusive domain of large biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms with multi-millions to spend on clinical trials. But, as the face of the biopharma world is being altered by smaller firms, these strategic relationships have taken a new form. Now, growing biopharma companies are working with more synergistic and more specialized CROs for new gains in efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Rather than being the small fish in a big pond, emerging firms are actively elevating their status by testing the waters of strategic partnerships with their CRO. Many of the benefits of working with a CRO that accrue to larger organizations are even more important for the smaller research sponsor that likely has limited resources.