By 2020 72% of clinical trials are anticipated to be outsourced, up from just 23% in 2012. Sponsors are seeking cost reductions, access to specialized knowledge, and increased speed and agility. Meanwhile, CROs focus is on business goals related to economic outcomes for their owners, investors and shareholders. Each group is expecting deliverables and timelines to be met or exceeded for potentially different business reasons, leading to a traditional client/vendor-type relationship. Though alliances and partnerships are increasing, there continues to be a client/vendor mentality at the operational and management levels, which perpetuates a lack of trust and empowerment. Read more at CenterWatch …

With the cost of clinical trials on the rise, and stricter budgets being impressed upon clinical teams, it has become harder and harder for sponsor companies to keep their costs under control whilst still ensuring quality results and regulatory compliance within required timelines. Add to this the growing amount of activity that is outsourced to CROs and other service providers, and effectively controlling costs can be a near impossible task. Read more at clinicaltrialsarena.com …

THE KEY of our „Fair Deal“ negotiation technique can be summarized in three answers: Be prepared – be prepared – be prepared. You would not imagine how much money is wasted every year in bad meetings and negotiations – just because of bad preparations.

You know the feeling: You get invited to a meeting by a person you don’t really know, about a project you’ve barely heard of, and you’re not sure how you can best contribute to the meeting. Click. You accept anyway. Find out just how much time this simple act wastes, and what you can do about it, from David Grady (TED Talk: How to save the world (or at least yourself) from bad meetings) and Jason Fried (TED Talk: Why work doesn’t happen at work). Read more at TED.IDEAS.COM …

KMR Group, a provider of biopharmaceutical R&D performance analytics, has announced its newest online clinical trial performance application, CRO Metrix. The tool helps clinical research organizations and sponsor biopharmaceutical companies assess the performance of CROs. Read more at CenterWatch …

Never before have operating conditions for clinical studies been more difficult. Clinical operations groups face growing pressure to get drugs to market faster while improving efficiencies and study quality. Development costs continue to rise. At the same time, the logistics of conducting a clinical trial have become more complex in the increasingly competitive and regulated environment.

As the operating environment has become more challenging, The CenterWatch Monthlyasked four experienced, high-level clinical operations executives about the issues that keep them up at night. Some of the concerns were surprisingly mundane, while others got to the core of why they choose to work in the clinical research enterprise. Read more at CenterWatch …