clinical research organization companies

Top 17 Clinical Research Organizations (CRO) in 2023

In clinical research and treatment development, clinical research organizations (CROs) are frequently a sponsor’s most important partner and ally.

Depending on the nature of the clinical trial, and your existing capabilities as a sponsor to run the trial, the CRO company of your choice will typically be responsible for facilitating most of the micro and macro processes that go into designing and running a successful clinical trial.

When contracting a CRO to help you with your trial, you are transferring over a large portion of responsibility into the hands of your clinical research partner. The CRO of your choice will have the responsibility to control a variety of factors and processes of a clinical trial, and depending on their expertise, team structures, service offerings, internal resources and many other capabilities.

Your ability to find and contract a top CRO company that is the right fit for your unique trial will be a determinant of whether or not you will be able to operate a high-quality clinical trial that meets your expected timelines, budget and delivers a top-notch patient experience.

At ClaraHealth (a patient-centric recruitment acceleration platform) , we have put together an extensive list of the top CRO companies in the US and around the world.

This is not a cro rankings list, but rather a compiled list of some of the top clinical research organizations around the world. We have highlighted their strengths and core service offerings to make it easier for you to find the right fit clinical research partner.

In addition, we’ve put together a list of 9 fundamental questions to ask the prospective clinical research organization , which will help you to save time and ensure a right fit in picking the CRO.

Formerly known as Quintiles and IMS Health, IQVIA is one of the largest CROs in the world, with a large range of service offerings to help advance clinical research.

The company was founded in North Carolina in 1982, and has since grown to over 88,000 employees in more than 100 countries.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by IQVIA include:

• Assistance with protocol design
• Design of phase 1 clinical trials
• Assessment and improvement of phase 2 and 3 clinical trials
• Site identification & selection
• Patient recruitment
• Access to global laboratories via their wholly owned subsidiary Q2 Solutions

Parexel is a global clinical research organization that was founded in 1982, and specializes in conducting clinical studies on behalf of its pharmaceutical partners in order to accelerate and ensure the drug approval process of up-and-coming potential treatments. It currently operates in more than 50 countries, and is run by more than 18,000 employees around the world.

The company has a wide range of service offerings, covering nearly every type of clinical trial service to assist sponsors in running successful clinical studies.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Parexel include:

• Clinical trial design and development for early phase, phase 2 & 3, and late phase clinical trials
• Clinical data management
• Decentralized clinical trials
• Clinical supply chain management
• Medical writing
• Regulatory affairs consulting
• Pharmacovigilance

3. PRA Health Sciences

PRA Health Sciences is one of the largest contract research organizations in the world. Founded in 1976 under the name “Anti-Inflammatory Drug Study Group”, the company was renamed to PRA in 1982. PRA Health Sciences employees more than 17,000 people, and provides coverage to more than 90 countries.

In 2021, PRA Health Sciences was acquired by the Ireland-headquartered global CRO leader ICON, which is also reviewed in this list.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by PRA Health Sciences include:

• Decentralized Clinical Trials Platform
• Protocol Consultation & Study Design
• Onsite Support services
• Customized Solutions for Biotech (such as asset valuation, regulatory strategy, engagement and support, drug development strategy and funding solutions)
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Site Commercial Solutions
• PRA’s Laboratories for Drug Development

Headquartered in Ireland, ICON was founded in 1990 in Dublin by co-founders John Climax and Ronan Lambre. The company has since grown to be one of the largest CROs in the world. As of September 2020, the company employs more than 15,000 people in 94 locations and across 40 countries.

ICON offers clinical research services which include consulting, clinical development and commercialization across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

In 2021, ICON acquired PRA Health Sciences, which is another CRO and global leader in clinical research services.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by ICON:

• Commercial Positioning
• Early Phase
• Functional Services Provision
• Laboratories
• Language Services
• Medical Imaging
• Real World Intelligence
• Site & Patient Solutions
• COVID-19 Clinical Operations

5. Syneos Health

Formerly known as InVentiv Health Incorporated and INC Research, Syneos Health is a publicly listed and global contract research organization. The company is based in Morrisville, North Carolina, and specializes in assisting companies with late-stage clinical trials. Syneos Health currently employs more than 25,000 people, and has offices across 91 locations.

In early 2018, INC Research was acquired inVentiv Health, and the merged company was named Syneos Health.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Syneos Health include:

• Decentralized Clinical Trials Solutions
• Bioanalytical Solutions
• Phase II-III/Phase IIIb-IIIV
• Medical Device Diagnostics
• Clinical Data Management
• Clinical Project Management
• Clinical Monitoring
• Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance
• Site and Patient Access

6. Labcorp Drug Development (Formerly Covance)

Formerly known as Covance and renamed to Labcorp Drug Development in early 2021, this CRO is one of the largest contract research organizations in the world. The company claims to provide the world’s largest central laboratory network, and has been rated as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality by the Human Rights Campaign organization in 2018 to 2021. Currently, Labcorp employs over 70,000 people and is able to support clinical research efforts in almost 100 countries around the world.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Labcorp Drug Development include:

• Preclinical Services
• Clinical Trials
• Clinical Trial Laboratory Services
• Post-Marketing Solutions
• Medical Devices
• Data & Technology

Also known as Pharmaceutical Product Development, PPD is a large global contract research organization headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina. Started as a one-person consulting firm in 1985, PPD has grown to over 27,000 employees worldwide, and provides a wide range of clinical research services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by PPD include:

• Clinical Development
• Early Development
• Peri- and Post-Approval
• PPD Biotech
• PPD Laboratories
• Product Development and Consulting
• Site and Patient Centric Solutions

8. Fisher Clinical Services

Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Fisher Clinical Services is a global clinical research organization with headquarters in Center Valley, Philadelphia.

The company has been in the business of clinical supply chain management for over 20 years, and is focused exclusively on working with the packaging and distribution requirements of clinical trials across the globe.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Fisher Clinical Services include:

• Biologistics Management
• Cell & Gene Therapy
• Clinical Ancillary Management
• Clinical Label Services
• Clinical Trial Packaging & Storage
• Clinical Supply Optimization Services
• Cold Chain Management & Expertise
• Direct-to-Patient
• Distribution & Logistics
• Strategic Comparator Sourcing
• Public Health Research

Established in 1997 under the name Kiecana Clinical Research, KCR is a full-service contract research organization that provides a variety of services for clinical monitoring, safety & pharmacovigilance, clinical project management, quality assurance and regulatory affairs.

KCR operates globally, and has offices in North America, Western Europe, Central Europe and Eartern Europe. The company currently employs more than 700 staff.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by KCR include:

• Trial Execution

10. Medpace

Founded in 1992 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Medpace is a midsize clinical contract research organization. The company has operations in over 45 countries, and employs over 2,800 people. Medpace provides support services for Phase I-IV clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which include central laboratory services and regulatory services.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Medpace include:

• Biostatistics and Data Sciences
• Clinical Trial Management
• Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance
• Medical Writing
• Quality Assurance
• Regulatory Affairs
• Risk-Based Monitoring
• Medpace Laboratories

11. Clintec

Now in business for over 22 years, Clintec is a medium-sized global contract research organization for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries, with large expertise in oncology and rare diseases.

The company provides the flexibility and agility of a smaller-sized CRO, while also having a wide global coverage that large CRO companies are known for. Clintec is based in more than 50 countries, and was acquired by the leading global CRO IQVIA in late 2018.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Clintec include:

• Project Management
• Data Management
• Biostatistics
• Global Feasibilities
• Patient Recruitment & Retention

12. Worldwide Clinical Trials

Bringing over 30 years of experience to the clinical research market, Worldwide Clinical Trials is a leading medium-sized global contract research organization. Founded by physicians with a dedication and commitment to advancing medical research, Worldwide Clinical Trials was the first customer-centric CRO.

Currently the company has coverage in more than 60 countries, and has extensive experience in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including central nervous system, metabolic, cardiovascular, oncology, rare diseases and general medicine.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Worldwide Clinical Trials include:

• Bioanalytical Lab
• Early Phase Development
• Clinical Phase IIB-II Clinical Trials
• Phase IIIB-IV Clinical Trials
• Trial Management Technologies

Named #1 CRO in the world for operational excellence at the 2021 CRO Leadership Awards, CTI Clinical Trial And Consulting Services is a medium-sized global contract research organization that has been serving pharmaceutical companies since 1999.

Based in Covington, Kentucky, CTI has offices around the world in more than 60 countries, with coverage in North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle-East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by CTI include:

• Feasibility
• Regulatory Affairs Study Start-Up
• Medical Monitoring
• Safety & Pharmacovigilance
• Clinical Services

14. Wuxi AppTec

Founded in 2000 as WuXi PharmaTech in the city of Wuxi, China, Wuxi AppTec has grown from a single laboratory into a leading global contract research organization with more than 28,000 employees, including 23,000 scientists and more than 30 research & development and manufacturing sites around the world.

With offices in Asia, U.S, Europe and the Middle East, the company is able to provide coverage to more than 30 countries around the world.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Wuxi AppTec include:

• Small Molecule Drug R&D and Manufacturing
• Cell Therapy and Gene Therapy
• Drug R&D and Medical Device Testing
• Clinical Services (Phase I-IV)

15. Advanced Clinical

Founded in 1994 and based out of Deerfield, Illinois, Advanced Clinical is a midsize and full-service CRO that helps sponsors with running clinical trials. The company employs more than 700 staff, and offers a wide variety of services across many therapeutic areas. Advanced Clinical has global representation in over 50 countries around the world.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Advanced Clinical include:

• eTMF & Document Management
• Global Medical Services
• Quality & Validation

16. Pharm-Olam

Pharm-Olam is a leading midsize CRO with global headquarters located in Houston, Texas and its European headquarters in Bracknell, United Kingdom. The company employs more than 800 staff, and has 25 offices around the world, with a global coverage in more than 60 countries.

The company has therapeutic expertise in 5 areas, including Rare & Orphan Disease, Infectious Disease & Vaccine, Oncology-Hematology, Allergy and Autoimmune.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Pharm-Olam include:

• Study Feasibility
• Site Activation
• Patient Recruitment
• Medical Affairs
• Compliance & Training
• Clinical Monitoring & Operations

17. Clinipace

Founded in 2003 and based out of Morrisville, North Carolina, Clinipace is a global midsize full-service CRO with a focus on solution customization for clinical trials. The company has a large global coverage in more than 50 countries, and has offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.

Clinipace’s therapeutic focus areas include Oncology, Nephrology and Urology, Rare Disease, Gastroenterology and Women’s Health. The company also has complete therapeutic expertise in Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Cardiology, CNS, Immunology, and Respiratory.

Some clinical trial solutions offered by Clinipace include:

• Clinical Analytics
• Clinical Technology and Ecosystem
• Functional Service Partnership (FSP)
• Regulatory & Strategic Product Development

9 Fundamental Questions To Ask A Top CRO Company Before Signing The Contract

1. which services does the cro provide.

CROs offload a lot of operational tasks from trial sponsors, which can touch any component of clinical trial operations. From formulating an overall study strategy and implementing technologies to support the operational processes of the trial, to picking and identifying sites, and supporting patients during the trial, the range of clinical services offered by a CRO tends to be vast and inclusive of all the typical services and support you will require for running a successful clinical trial.

However, not all CROs are the same in their service offerings, or are able to offer the same depth of capability within a seemingly same clinical trial support process. For this reason it is important to understand exactly which kind of clinical services and support you are looking to receive from the prospective CRO when running your clinical trial.

While services such as clinical monitoring and clinical trial management are offered by the majority of CROs, the specific needs of each trial are unique, and for this reason it is important to first identify what will be the unique services your trial requires. Completing this internal analysis first will help you to understand the extent to which a potential CRO partner will be able to provide all of these services.

Some CROs specialize in specific clinical trial functions which the company may label as a “core services”, in which case this is a sign the company will have more expertise, experience, and will be set up in a way to maximize their capabilities in providing support for these services compared to other services that the CRO offers.

For example, a CRO may include patient recruitment as part of its “core services”, which implies that they are highly skilled in and have the necessary infrastructure to design and implement a high-quality patient recruitment strategy.

Clara Health CRO Support Services: At Clara Health our specialty services include technology-augmented digital and patient advocacy recruitment, as well as patient support via our signature patient recruitment platform, which we use to upgrade clinical trials and deliver results sponsors look for in their recruitment and retention campaigns.

At Clara, we work alongside CROs to supplement and support clinical trials with modern and personalized capabilities that CROs do not typically have the bandwidth, corporate structure or infrastructure to support.

If you would like to learn more about exactly how our platform can upgrade your unique trial, feel free to book a Free 30 Minute Consultation Session Here with one of our in-house experts.

2. What Related Experience Does The CRO Have?

It is helpful to ask the prospective CRO company if they have any relevant experience in running clinical trials that would be an asset in designing and running your study. Previous experience in a related therapeutic area or in running a trial with a similar design allows CROs to have a deeper understanding into potential opportunities and challenges, increasing the likelihood of your clinical study being successful.

For example, if a sponsor is planning to run a trial in oncology, for the purpose of site identification and selection it would be valuable to partner with a CRO vendor that has expertise in this area, as they likely already have a good understanding of which sites will lead to optimal results.

However, it is also important to consider all factors when selecting a CRO vendor and not to rely on therapeutic experience as the sole qualifier for whether or not a potential CRO is a fit for your trial. While previous experience is beneficial, some sponsors close themselves off from working with vendors that have not worked in their therapeutic area, which significantly limits options when choosing a CRO partner that is truly a good fit for their clinical study.

This can impact the end result of your clinical study, as sponsors that are not successful in choosing a CRO vendor that is the right overall fit may face difficulties if the needs of their clinical study aren’t being properly met.

Clara Health: We have worked to provide support for clinical trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas and trial designs. Our specialty is filling in the gaps that CROs traditionally did not have to think about, which include digital patient recruitment, patient advocacy recruitment, and technology-augmented patient support.

Additionally, we are constantly building our proprietary data and running tests in a variety of therapeutic areas. These research efforts allow us to have a detailed understanding of the expected level of difficulty when recruiting particular patient populations, as well as allow us to predict with accuracy which segments of the targeted population will be likely to qualify in a particular study.

3. What Are The Communication Workflows & Expectations For Performing And Delivering Contracted Services?

It is important that you clarify what the expectations for communication will be between your prospective CRO vendor and your internal teams, as you will most likely be working with the CRO of your choice for the entire duration of your clinical trial.

There are a vast variety of factors and success determinants for a clinical trial, which are continuously undergoing change as the study unfolds. For this reason, it is recommended that you work with a CRO that is proactive in their communication, so that you are kept up to date with information about important changes as your clinical trial progresses.

A vendor that is proactive rather than reactive in their communication and approach to dealing with arising issues is one of the most important qualities in CRO. Challenging situations will naturally arise, and the promptness with which they are taken care of will significantly impact your clinical trial’s degree of success. Therefore, seeking a vendor that is able to match the standard of communication that you as a sponsor would like to experience throughout the duration of your partnership is one of the most critical steps in determining which CRO is the right fit for your clinical trial.

We’ve included a few additional questions pertaining to the communication structure and reporting expectations that you can ask a prospective CRO vendor to determine the degree of fit in this particular category:

Communication Expectations:

• If we were to move forward with you, which of your team members will be our main point of contact?
• How available will you be outside of the scheduled meetings to address any of our concerns or additional requests?
• What will be the frequency at which update meetings will be conducted, and who will be present at those meetings?
• Which clinical study processes will be reported on, and what will be the workflow for how we will receive this information?
• What will be the cadence at which we will receive progress reports?
• Would we be able to access metrics electronically via an interactive dashboard, or will you send us formal reports?

Clara Health: At Clara Health, we directly interact and actively work with several key stakeholders involved in running a clinical trial, which includes sponsors, CROs, sites, and patients. This unique position allows us to have a centralized perspective which helps us to see all the moving parts of a clinical trial at the same time, which helps to identify issues and relay this vital information and insight back to the sponsor (or other appropriate stakeholders) in the shortest time possible.

The ability to access this perspective allows us to gather the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date information about how the clinical trial is unfolding, and quickly becomes very valuable to sponsors for their clinical trial.

As an example, we may receive feedback from patients about having an unsatisfactory experience with a particular study site. We are able to aggregate and analyze this information, and relay our findings back to the sponsor and the study site to improve the experience for other patients.

4. What Is The CRO’s Client Satisfaction Record?

It is a good practice to request information or metrics from the prospective CRO vendor that can point to the degree of satisfaction of their past clients. Prior to signing the contract, vendors will naturally do their best to uplift their image and future value to you during their sales conversations with you and your team. It can be tricky to get an objective understanding of what the partnership experience will actually entail, especially when there are multiple vendors fighting for your commitment.

We recommend that you ask the prospective vendor to provide success metrics regarding areas of clinical trial operations that are going to be important for your trial.

For example, you may be interested in learning about the vendor’s relationship to finances, in which case it will be useful to ask them about situations in which they went over the planned budget, and investigate into the reasons behind that. Alternatively you may be concerned about potential delays in timelines, in which case it would be helpful to learn about metrics regarding the CRO’s ability to meet timeline expectations.

You may also request to talk to the prospective CRO’s past clients, which will help you to gain insight into what the relationship was like and give you the opportunity to examine if the way in which the particular CRO manages its relationships and performs its services meets the expectations that you would have for your potential relationship and for your clinical trial.

Clara Health: At Clara Health, our relationships with our partners and with our patients are most important to us. In the unique position where we fit in the clinical trial process, we have the opportunity to directly co-create the clinical trial patient experience with a variety of stakeholders, including sponsors, sites, CROs, and patients.

Our company’s values and culture have been directed and developed to be such that the client and patient experience is at the top of priority for all of our internal teams, and we work to provide the best quality of care to all stakeholders.

We have many testimonials from every type of partner we’ve worked with which we can happily share with you.

5. How Do You Adapt When Encountering Challenges With Running A Clinical Trial?

It is inevitable that challenges and unforeseen changes will arise throughout the operational clinical trial process, and for this reason it is important to work with a CRO vendor that can provide you with evidence of their flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes.

The ideal CRO partner is one that is highly consultative throughout the entire process, and has an ability and the initiative to deal with challenges at their seed stage, prior to them turning into major obstacles for the success of your trial.

CROs naturally have a large reach, and there are a lot of different clinical trial mechanisms and processes that are under their control. They are able to monitor and respond to what is going on in every key link in the chain of the clinical trial operation.

It is reasonable to expect this level of oversight from a CRO, and additional questions that can help you gain insight into this include:

• What are some examples where the CRO was effective at monitoring the health of clinical trials they’ve helped operate in the past?
• How quickly does the CRO respond to challenges or opportunities for improving the clinical trial experience?
• How well does the CRO gather & process information from study sites, study teams, patients & the sponsor, and what are their typical data analysis workflows?

It is also recommended to speak to the prospective CROs past clients to help you gain insight into how well they respond and adapt to the naturally arising challenges in clinical trials.

Clara Health: While CROs do have a large reach within the clinical trial, no CRO has complete visibility into every clinical process. They are not typically set up to support full visibility, which can manifest as a potential threat to your clinical trial as it unfolds. This is especially true for parts of the clinical trial processes that CROs naturally do not specialize and often subcontract, such as clinical trial recruitment.

At Clara, we are in a unique position in relation to other key partners involved in operating the clinical trial. We are in direct and frequent contact with patients, CROs, study sites, study teams, and the sponsor, and have a very deep understanding of the patient pipeline. This allows us the unique ability to go very deep into specific parts of the recruitment chain and investigate what is working and what is not working.

In addition, Clara functions as a resource for all partners in the clinical trial. For example, we work directly with site teams to ensure that they have access to a 3rd party that they can relay their needs to and receive fast support in case there is anything they require that can improve the patient recruitment process.

6. Which Parts Of Operating The Clinical Trial Will You Be Outsourcing?

Since there are so many processes and mechanisms that go into operating a clinical trial, CROs will always outsource some parts of running and managing the study. While you can expect that the prospective CRO will subcontract some of the work, it is important to find out which exact parts the clinical study will be outsourced.

There are certain basic and key clinical processes (such as site selection) that CROs almost always help with, and if you find that these parts of your trial are going to be subcontracted to another company, it is recommended to find out why the CROs operations are set up this way and how this would impact the service you will receive.

Ultimately what matters to you as a partner and client is that the quality of service and care that you will receive will be up to standard, and meet what was promised and what you are expecting. While this trust is important after you have signed the contract, it is recommended that prior to entering into such a significant commitment that you have evidence and the conviction that the CRO of your choice is truly the right fit and will deliver the quality of service that was being discussed.

Since it is impossible to predict exactly what the quality of this relationship and services performed will actually be like in practice, it is recommended that you understand the details of what will be done for your trial and how. Investigating how the CRO outsources and subcontracts services for a clinical trial will help you to gain necessary insight that you would need to make the correct vendor selection decision.

Clara Health: At Clara, we maximize the effectiveness of the digital component across the entire digital & recruitment spectrum, which is added on top of the existing capabilities of the CROs and other vendors involved in operating your clinical trial. In addition, we offer services that augment the CROs efforts, which has the potential to significantly improve the patient experience, operations flows, recruitment and retention performance, which is so important in ensuring the success of a clinical trial.

For example, if a CRO wants to have a great site relationship, we are able to come in as a third party on behalf of the sponsor and CRO and act as a resource and additional support for sites.

In another example, If a sponsor wants to have great relationships with the patient community, Clara is able to come in on behalf of the sponsor and develop these relationships while being perceived more neutrally by the patient community.

7. Do You Have Experience Running International Trials?

If you are planning on operating an international clinical trial, it is recommended to work with a CRO that has extensive experience in this area. While many CROs will offer near-global coverage, the level of experience with specific geographic locations can significantly vary from one vendor to another.

It is important to work with a CRO that has experience running clinical trials in the specific countries and regions you are planning to conduct your research in. Being compliant with the local rules and regulations for clinical testing is a very complex process that requires existing understanding and familiarity in order to ensure logistical smoothness and to mitigate legal risks. In operating a clinical trial, there are a multitude of clinical services and processes, which can greatly vary across the many regions in which you can conduct clinical testing.

A CRO that is lacking experience in operating international trials or operating in particular regions where you plan on conducting research may not be able to meet your desired quality and agility expectations, and therefore may not be the right fit for your international clinical trial.

Clara Health: In the past, we have provided international patient recruitment and digitally-augmented trial support services for clinical trials in the EU, Canada, UK, Australia and South America.

Clara Health is fully compliant to operate international studies everywhere in the world, with the exception of Russia and China.

8. What Is Your Relationship With Patients?

Patient-centric approach to designing and operating a clinical trial is becoming more and more crucial in the clinical research space. The ability of a sponsor and their CRO partner to understand the needs and characteristics of their target patient community is a significant determinant of whether or not the study will be a success.

A sponsor that has close and authentic relationships with the patient community tends to have a deeper understanding of how to create the best clinical trial experience that will attract patients and keep their interest throughout the clinical trial.

In addition, strong relationships with patients allow sponsors and CROs to forecast recruitment and patient retention pipeline with much higher accuracy. This ability is critical for ensuring the success of the trial and mitigating the risk of low enrollment. After an understanding of the patient population is acquired, sponsors gain the necessary insight to design a clinical trial that is not only favorable to their research results, but is also practical and will result in the enrollment numbers they are looking for.

While many CROs have already recognized the importance of patient-centricity and evolved the ways in which they design and operate clinical trials, other CROs have not yet made such a pivot in their values. It is important to understand the degree of importance the prospective CRO places on creating a favorable patient experience, and what kind of infrastructure the company has to support it.

At Clara, we recommend choosing a CRO partner that is adapting to the patient-centric model which is becoming more and more important for running a successful clinical trial.

Clara Health: Since early stages of our development, we’ve had a dedicated patient advocacy team that has been integral in shaping our company’s vision and operations. We have built our entire platform and recruitment infrastructure around creating the best experience for patients. Our teams, corporate values, service offerings and company infrastructure all work in the service of the patient.

In addition, over the many years of being in business we have heavily invested in building authentic patient community relationships that span across a variety of therapeutic areas. This has given us a unique ability to receive feedback directly from patients that is genuine and authentic around marketing materials, strategy for patient recruitment, and other services that we build for specific trials.

This ability to build partnerships with the patient community in an authentic way gives us a very unique ability to engage with the patient community on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, allowing our sponsor & CRO partners the opportunity to start conversations with patients through our in-house patient advocacy team.

If you would like to learn how Clara can help you to build a strong & authentic relationship with your target patient community, get in touch with us and we’d be happy to share our capabilities and previous results with you as they relate to your current or upcoming clinical trial.

9. How Is The CRO Going To Utilize Patient Input For Developing The Trial?

In the initial stages of clinical trial design, sponsors often determine the ideal patient profiles that would help them to drive the most favorable research outcomes for their study. While it is important for the success of your trial to determine who your ideal patients are, very often these projections do not match up with what is viable in practice.

At Clara, we often encounter study protocols that are not set up realistically for successful recruitment to be possible.

Common mistakes that are made when determining trial eligibility criteria and trial design include:

• Overestimating the interest in the clinical trial from the target patient population
• A lack of patient focus in the trial design
• A lack of convenience for patients in their participation
• Complicated and/or inefficient study experience flows
• Crafting the eligibility criteria around the patient population that is most likely to lead to favorable study outcomes, without conducting sufficient research to more accurately estimate the recruitment and retention difficulty of the group for a particular study

It is natural for there to be a “push & pull” between the research ideal and the real world practicality. It is important to determine the correct balance between these two sides for your trial, as going too far in either direction will decrease the chance of your clinical study’s success.

The nature of the industry as it is right now is such that there is excess research idealization and not enough emphasis on patient centricity. This distorted orientation has resulted in many clinical trials being unsuccessful, negatively impacting sponsors, patients and the entire clinical trials industry.

The ideal CRO partner should help you make sure that your protocol design sets your study up for success. The CRO should be able to help you determine the proper balance between the research ideal and the real world practicality, and back up their findings with sufficient research and patient data that can project your trial being a success.

Clara Health: When formulating a recruitment and retention plan for our clients, we begin with conducting thorough research into the target trial patient population. This allows us to get a clear understanding of which recruitment channels will yield the best results and what kind of marketing materials will resonate with the prospective study participants.

To ensure accuracy and real-world applicability of our research, we consult and collaborate with our internal patient advocacy and patient support teams, as well as with our clients and patients representing the target trial patient profiles. We then tie our findings back with any existing proprietary data that we have in connection with the therapeutic area or the prospective target patient group.

Our unique position within the clinical recruitment chain gives us the presence and deep-rooted access needed to effectively tap into any of the three patient traffic sources: digital recruitment, offline recruitment, or patient advocacy recruitment.

Once a recruitment campaign has gone live, we constantly monitor, analyze and optimize our performance to make sure that the processes we have in place are as efficient as possible and drive the greatest results. In addition, we have the capability to layer in any traditional advertising (such as billboard ads) if requested by the study sponsor.

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Top 15 Clinical Research Companies: Leaders in Medical Innovation

In the healthcare industry, the number of contract research organizations in the US has reached 2,823 in 2023. This marks a subtle but significant increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year.

This increase signals a vital trend: the growing complexity of finding the best clinical research companies in a crowded field. These organizations aren’t just businesses; they’re important in advancing medicine and developing drugs and therapies.

With such an important task, choosing the right company becomes essential. In this guide, we’ve looked closely at many companies along with their strengths and weaknesses and made a list of the top clinical research organizations. 

By the end, you’ll know which company is the best fit for your needs.

Table of Contents

Quick List of Top 15 Clinical Research Companies

Here is a quick overview of the best companies of clinical research:

• IQVIA: Best for data-driven insights and advanced analytics in healthcare research.
• ICON: Best for comprehensive clinical development services and therapeutic expertise.
• Parexel: Best for global biopharmaceutical services, emphasizing regulatory and clinical trial excellence.
• Syneos Health: Best for integrated biopharmaceutical solutions and clinical-commercial capabilities.
• PPD: Best for drug development services with innovative, technology-enhanced trial strategies.
• Labcorp: Best for comprehensive clinical testing and diagnostics services with global reach.
• Medpace: Best for expertise in clinical research and regulatory affairs for pharmaceutical companies.
• Charles River Laboratories: Best for preclinical research and development services, including animal testing and research models.
• PRA Health Sciences: Best for clinical trial expertise and integrated solutions for biopharmaceutical development.
• AdvanCell: Best for innovative cell and tissue-based research solutions for life science industries.
• Dynata: Best for data-driven insights and market research services for informed decision-making.
• Covance: Best for end-to-end drug development solutions, from preclinical to post-marketing.
• MedNet: Best for technology solutions and eClinical platforms for streamlined clinical trials.
• Fisher Clinical Services Inc: Best for global logistics and supply chain services for clinical trial materials.
• Worldwide Clinical Trials: Best for specialized CRO offering personalized clinical research solutions.

3 Best Clinical Research Organizations: Comparison Chart

Here’s a comparison table to highlight the key features and differences among the best companies of clinical research. This table aims to provide a quick overview of each company’s unique strengths and areas of expertise in the pharmaceutical and healthcare research sector.

3 Top Clinical Research Organization List For Advanced Medical Discoveries

Now, we’ll explore the top clinical research organizations (CROs) dedicated to advancing medical discoveries. Let’s jump into the details of these exceptional organizations.

IQVIA is a global leader in clinical research and healthcare data analytics. They play a crucial role in the medical field by providing comprehensive data, advanced analytics, and expert insights. This helps pharmaceutical and healthcare companies make smarter, more effective decisions. 

Why is IQVIA among the best? Their strength lies in their vast database and advanced technology, which enable them to analyze complex healthcare data efficiently. This leads to a better understanding of diseases, more effective treatments, and faster drug development. 

IQVIA’s work is essential because it speeds up the process of bringing new medicines to the market, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide. In short, IQVIA is a key catalyst in advancing global healthcare.

About IQVIA

• Founding Team: Dennis Gillings
• Founding Year: 1982
• Company Size:   86,000

Features of IQVIA

IQVIA, a prominent player in the life sciences sector, is dedicated to advancing healthcare through connected intelligence. Here are some key features of IQVIA in the world of clinical research:

Innovative Clinical Development

IQVIA is reimagining clinical development by intelligently connecting data, technology, and analytics. This approach leads to faster decision-making and reduced risk, enabling the delivery of life-changing therapies more quickly.

Efficient Payment Systems for Clinical Trials 

They have simplified the process of paying sites involved in clinical trials. IQVIA offers the capability to make payments within 30 days, even in challenging locations. This significantly reduces the administrative burden of managing clinical trial payments by up to 90%.

Decentralized Trials Expertise

The company has conducted over 500 studies in more than 75 countries, covering over 30 indications using decentralized trial methodologies. This demonstrates their capability in managing complex, multinational clinical trials.

Global Reach and Impact

With a presence in various regions, including Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa, IQVIA’s global footprint allows it to drive healthcare innovations worldwide.

AI and Technology Integration

The company is at the forefront of integrating AI and other technologies in healthcare. Their Healthcare-grade AI promises precision, speed, scale, trust, and reliability, essential for advancing health and improving patient outcomes.

• Extensive, reliable healthcare data enhances market research quality.
• Utilizes AI and machine learning for advanced healthcare insights.
• Specialized focus yields a deep understanding of healthcare dynamics.
• Broad international presence enables diverse and large-scale studies.
• Offers advanced tools for insightful healthcare data analysis.
• Advanced tools can be challenging to use without training.
• Handling sensitive health data raises privacy and security issues.

Our Review of IQVIA

IQVIA, a prominent player in the healthcare and life sciences industry, presents a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, we appreciate IQVIA’s extensive expertise in data analytics and healthcare consulting. 

Their comprehensive research and analysis have undoubtedly driven valuable insights and innovations in the sector. Moreover, their global presence allows for diverse perspectives and access to critical healthcare data.

However, we must also acknowledge some shortcomings. IQVIA’s services can be prohibitively expensive for smaller organizations, limiting accessibility. Additionally, the sheer volume of data can sometimes lead to information overload, making it challenging to extract actionable insights.

ICON is a prominent company in the field of clinical research, playing a significant role in advancing medical science. They specialize in designing and conducting clinical trials for new medicines and treatments. 

The work of ICON is crucial because they help determine the safety and effectiveness of these potential medical breakthroughs. They are considered one of the best in clinical research due to their high standards of accuracy, reliability, and ethical practices. 

ICON’s expertise ensures that the clinical trials they manage are conducted efficiently and effectively, leading to faster approval of new treatments. This directly impacts patient care, as it allows quicker access to new, potentially life-saving medicines. 

In essence, ICON’s contribution is vital in driving forward medical innovations.

• Founding Team: John Climax and Ronan Lambe
• Founding Year: 1990
• Company Size: 41,160

Features of ICON

Here are some of the key features of ICON in clinical research:

Diverse Clinical and Scientific Operations

ICON offers a wide range of clinical and scientific operations services, ensuring comprehensive support for various aspects of clinical trials. This includes everything from study design to execution and data analysis.

Decentralized Clinical Trial Solutions

They provide end-to-end services, operational models, and technology to deliver customized solutions for decentralized clinical trials. This approach is increasingly important in today’s clinical research landscape, offering flexibility and efficiency.

Specialized Therapeutic Areas

ICON has expertise across multiple therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, central nervous system, endocrine & metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, internal medicine & immunology, oncology, and more. This broad expertise allows them to handle a wide range of clinical research projects.

Innovative Solutions for Biotech

ICON provides full-service outsourcing and flexible support customized to the specific needs of biotech companies. This includes due diligence and asset valuation, which are critical for biotech firms navigating the complex landscape of drug development.

Advanced Medical Imaging Solutions

Their expert medical imaging solutions support all stages of clinical research, improving decision-making, increasing efficiency, and reducing trial costs.

• Decades of expertise ensure high-quality clinical research.
• Offers wide-reaching capabilities for multi-regional clinical studies.
• Deep understanding of global regulations enhances compliance and efficiency.
• Invests in new technologies for more efficient trial processes.
• Broad range of specialties contributes to comprehensive service offerings.
• Managing multi-regional trials can lead to logistical challenges.
• Rapid growth may strain resources and affect service quality.

Our Review of ICON

When we researched ICON, we found both commendable aspects and areas for improvement. On the positive side, we appreciate their commitment to clinical research and their global presence, which allows for diverse study options. Their experienced team and advanced technology contribute to reliable data collection and analysis.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. We have noticed occasional delays in project timelines, which can be frustrating. Additionally, the cost of their services tends to be on the higher side, making it a potential barrier for smaller research endeavors.

Parexel is a globally recognized company in clinical research, known for its important role in developing new medical treatments. They are one of the biggest clinical research organizations. Parexel conducts clinical trials, crucial steps in testing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. 

The work of Parexel is essential because it bridges the gap between medical research and the availability of new treatments to patients. One of the reasons they stand out as one of the best in this field is their rigorous approach to research. 

Their commitment to quality and their global network also enables diverse and large-scale studies, setting them apart from others in the field. These strengths allow Parexel to deliver reliable and valuable data, accelerating the process of bringing new, effective medicines to the market. 

Simply put, Parexel is a key player in transforming medical research into real-world health solutions.

About Parexel

• Founding Team: Josef von Rickenbach and Anne B. Sayigh
• Company Size: 18,900

Features of Parexel

Parexel, a global biopharmaceutical services organization, offers a range of features in clinical research. Here are some key aspects of their approach:

Patient-Centric Approach

Parexel emphasizes a patient-first strategy in their clinical trials. This approach results in deeper and more relevant insights for trial design and execution. This ensures that the trials are more aligned with patient needs and experiences.

Innovative Trial Designs

Parexel employs innovative trial designs to optimize trials for maximum impact. This includes advanced modeling and simulation to predict drug effects ahead of time, which can save time, money, and resources.

Regulatory Compliance and Market Access

Parexel designs studies and endpoints with market access in mind, ensuring that they satisfy global regulations. This approach helps in getting treatments to patients safely and quickly.

Patient Advocacy and Engagement

The company includes patient advocates in their council, using their experiences to improve trial designs. This inclusion demonstrates their commitment to understanding and incorporating patient perspectives in clinical research.

Focus on Speed and Precision

Parexel aims to design neuroscience trials with speed and precision, utilizing the right experts and specializations. This focus is crucial in delivering effective treatments on time.

• Provides advanced technology and analytics for efficient data management.
• Extensive network provides global insights with regional knowledge.
• Expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments worldwide.
• Broad experience across various therapeutic areas ensures versatile solutions.
• Focuses on patient engagement for more effective trial outcomes.
• Rapid expansion can lead to challenges in resource management.
• Concentration in specific areas could pose risks in market shifts.

Our Review of Parexel

Parexel is a notable player in the field of clinical research and pharmaceutical services. We’ve thoroughly analyzed their offerings and found both strengths and areas that need improvement.

On the positive side, Parexel excels in its commitment to innovation and technology. We appreciate their continuous efforts to simplify clinical trials and drug development processes, making them more efficient.

However, we also noticed some downsides. Communication with clients could be more transparent, with clearer updates on project progress. Additionally, there’s room for improvement in terms of ensuring consistency in service quality across different projects.

Other 12 Companies of Clinical Research

In the world of clinical research, beyond the well-known names, there are 12 other companies making significant contributions. Let’s explore their vital role in advancing healthcare.

1. Syneos Health

Syneos Health helps develop medicines by managing clinical trials for new drugs. They’re essential because they ensure medicines are safe and effective. Syneos Health stands out in clinical research for its comprehensive services and global reach, making drug development smoother and faster.

About Syneos Health

• Founding Team: Colin Shannon
• Founding Year: 1980
• Company Size: 28,000

PPD is a group that tests new drugs to see if they’re good and safe. This is crucial for getting new treatments to people. They stand out for their thorough research and global reach.

• Founding Team: Fred Eshelman 
• Founding Year: 1985
• Company Size: 40,000+3

Labcorp does important tests and research for health. They’re needed because they help find out if new treatments are good. They’re among the best for their big labs and fast results.

About Labcorp

• Founding Team: Matthew Benger
• Founding Year: 1978
• Company Size: 75,5000

Medpace focuses on making sure new health treatments are safe. This is key for better medicine. They’re a top choice because of their focus on quality and detail in research.

About Medpace

• Founding Team: August Troendle
• Founding Year: 1992
• Company Size: 5,400

5. Charles River Laboratories

Charles River Laboratories tests drugs and does research to help pets and people stay healthy. They’re essential for safe, new treatments. Their expertise makes them a leader in the field.

About Charles River Laboratories

• Founding Team: Henry Foster
• Founding Year: 1947
• Company Size: 21,400

6. PRA Health Science

PRA Health Science works on finding out if new medicines are safe. This helps everyone get better treatments. They’re known for their excellent research and care in studies.

About PRA Health Science

• Founding Year: 1976
• Company Size: 17,000+

7. AdvanCell

AdvanCell specializes in new treatments, checking if they’re safe and working. Their work is vital for progress in medicine. They’re recognized for their innovation in research.

About AdvanCell

• Founding Team: Andrew Adamovich

Dynata gathers data for health studies. They’re needed for understanding what works in healthcare. They’re a top name for their accurate and wide-reaching data collection.

About Dynata

• Founding Team: Mike Petrullo
• Founding Year: 1940
• Company Size: 5000-10000

Covance helps with drug tests and research to fight diseases. Their role is key for new treatments. They’re celebrated for their comprehensive services and global impact.

About Covance

• Founding Team: Fred Cummings
• Founding Year: 1981
• Company Size: 50,000

MedNet provides software for managing clinical trials. This helps in making research easier and faster. They’re among the best for their tech solutions in research.

About MedNet

• Founding Team: John “Rob” Robertson
• Founding Year: 1996
• Company Size: 51-200

11. Fisher Clinical Services Inc.

Fisher Clinical Services Inc. manages the logistics of clinical trials, ensuring that treatments are tested efficiently. Their work is crucial for the progress of medicine, and they are renowned for their reliability and global network.

About Fisher Clinical Services Inc.

• Founding Team: John Pickering
• Founding Year: 1989

12. Worldwide Clinical Trials

Worldwide Clinical Trials conducts essential research to evaluate new medical treatments. Their work is critical for advancing healthcare. They are distinguished by their global expertise and commitment to innovation in clinical research.

About Worldwide Clinical Trials

• Founding Team: Neal Cutler
• Founding Year: 1986
• Company Size: 3,147

What To Consider When Choosing the Best Clinical Research Companies?

Choosing the right clinical research company (CRC) is crucial for the success of any clinical trial. Here’s a detailed guide on what to consider:

Expertise and Specialization

Always ensure the CRC has expertise in your specific therapeutic area. Companies with experience in similar drug trials or medical devices can better navigate the complexities of your project.

Regulatory Compliance

The CRC must adhere to regulatory guidelines like FDA (US) , EMA (Europe), and others. Check their track record in meeting these standards to avoid compliance issues.

Reputation and Track Record

You should research the company’s history. Look for testimonials, case studies, and reviews from past clients. A company with a strong reputation is likely to deliver quality results.

Project Management Capabilities

Effective project management is key. Assess their ability to manage timelines, budgets, and communication. A CRC that provides transparent, regular updates is preferable.

Patient Recruitment Strategies

Patient recruitment can be challenging. Evaluate their strategies for participant recruitment and retention. Consider their demographic reach and methods for ensuring a diverse participant pool.

Data Management and Analysis

The CRC should have strong systems for data collection, management, and analysis. Ask about their use of Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems and how they handle data security and confidentiality.

Cost and Financial Terms

Get a clear understanding of the cost structure. Consider the value for money rather than just the lowest cost. Ensure there are no hidden fees and clarify what is included in the quoted price.

How Heartbeat AI Can Help You Get the Best List of Clinical Research Organizations?

Heartbeat AI, with its advanced features, can significantly assist in identifying the best list of clinical research organizations (CROs). Here’s how its various features contribute to this process:

Data Analysis and Processing

Heartbeat AI excels in analyzing vast amounts of data. When it comes to selecting CROs, it can process and analyze information from numerous sources, including past performance records, clinical trial reports, and regulatory compliance data. This thorough analysis helps in identifying CROs with a proven track record of success and reliability.

Machine Learning Algorithms

These algorithms enable Heartbeat AI to learn from historical data and improve its recommendations over time. By understanding trends and patterns in the successful execution of clinical trials, it can better predict which CROs are likely to meet your specific needs.

Predictive Analytics

Heartbeat AI uses predictive models to forecast future trends and outcomes based on historical data. This can be invaluable in predicting the success rate of CROs in upcoming projects, thus aiding in making more informed choices.

Customization and Personalization

The AI can be customized to your specific requirements. If you’re focusing on a specific therapeutic area or clinical trial phase, Heartbeat AI can prioritize specialized CROs in these fields.

Real-time Data Updates

The healthcare and pharmaceutical landscapes are constantly changing. Heartbeat AI’s ability to integrate and analyze real-time data ensures that the recommendations are based on the most current information available.

Integration with External Databases

Heartbeat AI can integrate with various external databases and platforms. This enables it to pull in comprehensive information about CROs from diverse sources, enhancing the accuracy of its recommendations.

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Summing up, we’ve explored the best clinical research companies, diving into their features, strengths, weaknesses, and more. Clinical research is vital in healthcare; it’s key for advancing medical knowledge and developing new treatments. 

With this guide, you’re equipped to find the right clinical research company that meets your specific needs. Whether it’s for innovative therapies, drug development, or medical advancements, choosing the right partner is crucial. This guide serves as a valuable resource to help you make an informed decision in the complex world of clinical research.

Frequently Asked Question

What services do companies of clinical research offer.

Clinical research organizations offer a wide range of services, including protocol development, patient recruitment, data collection and analysis, regulatory compliance, and more.

What is the role of a clinical research coordinator?

A clinical research coordinator is responsible for managing various aspects of a clinical trial, including patient recruitment, data collection, and ensuring compliance with protocols.

What is informed consent in clinical research?

Informed consent is the process by which participants in a clinical trial are fully informed about the study’s purpose, risks, and benefits. They voluntarily agree to participate based on this information.

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Explore end-to-end solutions throughout development — from portfolio optimization and regulatory strategy, to Phase I-IV clinical trials, market access planning, and more.

• Portfolio management and asset valuation
• Early development and innovation
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• Value substantiation lifecycle management

HOW WE DO IT

• Operational excellence
• Delivery models
• Building patient insights into assets, profile and claims
• Portfolio Optimization
• Asset Valuation and Indication Prioritization
• Early Evidence Review
• Model-Based Drug Development
• Integrated Development Strategy and Planning
• Phase I Clinical Trials
• Proof of Concept Studies: Phase IB-IIA
• Patient Engagement Strategy and Enrollment Solutions
• Patient Inclusion
• Site Alliance Network and KOL Engagement
• Protocol Optimization
• Regulatory Strategy
• Market Access Strategy and Delivery
• Biomarker and Genomic Medicine Strategy
• Clinical Trial Supply & Logistics
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• Protocol-Driven, Customized Site Solution Strategy
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• Global Regulatory Submissions and Outsourcing
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• Real-World Evidence, Market Access Strategy and Planning
• Regulatory Compliance, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance
• Lifecycle Optimization
• Leveraging AI and digital in clinical development
• Biotech Solutions
• Gain an advantage through FSP

Utilize our expertise across therapeutic areas, combining innovative trial designs, leading clinical and regulatory expertise, global reach, and a passion for changing patient lives.

• Neuroscience
• General medicine
• Infectious disease & vaccines
• Inflammation & immunology

Cross-Therapeutic Expertise

• Cell & gene therapies
• Rare diseases

Our experts help you stay at the forefront of the industry - and ahead of change.

New Medicines, Novel Insights

• Advancing rare disease drug development
• Accelerating development of cell and gene therapies
• Achieving patient-guided drug development

Discussions on Diversity

• Chapter 1 Bridging the Gap
• Chapter 2 Beyond the Binary

The Regulatory Navigator

• Exploring ICH Q5A revision 2
• Potency assurance for CGT products: FDA's new draft guidance
• The FDA’s final guidance: CAR-T product development

Latest Report

New Medicines, Novel Insights: Achieving patient-guided drug development

Thinking about joining a clinical trial? Learn the drug development process, what it’s like to participate, how to find a trial, and answers to frequently asked questions.

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HEAR FROM REAL PATIENTS

• Patient Stories

TRIAL SITES

Want to collaborate with us to offer clinical trials at your site? We would welcome the opportunity to discuss.

We are one of the largest CROs in the world, speeding life-changing medicine to market by engaging patients With Heart ™. Learn about who we are, what we do, and what we believe.

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• EDI in clinical research: The case for adaptive strategies at every step
• 17th ISCR ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024
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• AAN Annual Meeting
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• AACR Annual Meeting
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• DIA Global Annual Meeting
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• Final countdown: How to transition your trials under EU-CTR
• SCRS: Oncology Site Solutions Summit

What can we help you find today?

At Parexel, we speed your life-changing medicines to patients 

Parexel is among the world’s largest clinical research organizations (CROs), providing the full range of Phase I to IV clinical development services to help lifesaving treatments reach patients faster. Leveraging the breadth of our clinical, regulatory, and therapeutic expertise, our team of more than 21,000 global professionals works in partnership with biopharmaceutical leaders, emerging innovators, and sites to design and deliver clinical trials with patients in mind, increasing access and participation to make clinical research a care option for anyone, anywhere.

Our depth of industry knowledge and strong track record gained over the past 40 years is moving the industry forward and advancing clinical research in healthcare’s most complex areas, while our innovation ecosystem offers quality solutions to make every phase of the clinical trial process more efficient. Our top-notch people, insight, and focus on operational excellence allow us to work every day to treat patients with dignity and continuously learn from their experiences, so every trial makes a difference. 

This approach continues to earn us recognition industrywide, with Parexel being named “Best Contract Research Organization” in November 2023 by an independent panel for Citeline, “Top CRO to Work With” by investigative sites worldwide in the 2023 WCG CenterWatch Global Site Relationship Benchmark Survey and recipient of the 2023 Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) Eagle Award for advancing the clinical research profession through strong site partnerships.

Read the transcript

It starts with people. They may come from anywhere. But they’re driven by a common goal: Their search for a brighter future.

They inspire us to learn from their lives across language and race, ability, ethnicity, and community.

So we design clinical trials that give them a voice, honor their sacrifice, and treat them as equals.

We are more than 21,000 professionals working with passion and perseverance to open doors. To lead change. And find new ways to work together.

We make participation easier and partnerships more productive to get to results faster and treatments sooner.

So every patient’s step forward brings them one step closer to a cure, to care, to hope.

Delivered with heart.

Leading the industry in trial inclusivity and accessibility

Within clinical research, patient diversity is critical. Inclusive studies move us closer to healthcare equity and more accurately reflect real-world populations — resulting in a far greater understanding of how the treatment will affect the people who need it. Our approach to designing more diverse, accessible trials is leading the industry forward.

Our family of brands

Parexel Academy

Your trusted partner in learning. Parexel Academy is committed to building and enhancing capabilities within the clinical research workforce so that, together, we make a positive impact on the lives of patients around the world.

Health Advances

As a trusted strategic advisor to healthcare and life science executives, Health Advances catalyzes your success with insight, innovation, and integrity.

The Medical Affairs Company

The industry’s leading provider of comprehensive outsourced medical affairs solutions.

Patients First

Empowerment and accountability.

Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy, and we're committed to making a difference.

From the smallest detail to the largest, we take quality seriously. We focus on the details while never losing sight of the big picture to drive the best possible outcome.

In our quest for innovation, we recognize and uphold the importance of all people, from our employees to our clients and the patients we all serve.

We follow our hearts, we do the right thing, and we have the courage to own the outcome.

Awards & Recognition

2023 Scrip Award

Parexel was named “Best Contract Research Organization” in the Full-Service Provider category at the 19th Annual Scrip Awards. The annual Scrip Awards, organized by Citeline, are designed to celebrate and recognize the very best innovations and achievements in global biopharma.

2023 HBA ACE Award

Parexel was recognized with the 2023 Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s (HBA) “Advancement. Commitment. Engagement (ACE) Award,” which recognizes companies for their creation and implementation of initiatives that deliver impactful outcomes designed to close the gender gap in the healthcare ecosystem. Parexel was one of two companies chosen as a result of the strong outcomes from its business initiative “Priority: Advancing Women in Leadership.”

2023 Eagle Award by Society of Clinical Research Sites

The SCRS Eagle Award recognizes the sponsor and CRO committed to outstanding leadership, professionalism, integrity, passion and dedication to advancing the clinical research profession through strong site partnerships. Recipients of the Eagle Award are selected based on votes cast from the global site community.

Ecovadis 2023

For the second year in a row, Parexel has received a “silver” rating in the 2023 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating Program. Ecovadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. A silver rating is awarded to organizations with a structured and proactive sustainability approach with strong reporting on KPIs and actions.

2023 CRO Leadership Awards

Parexel has been recognized with CRO Leadership Awards for the 12 th consecutive year across all five categories – Capabilities, Compatibility, Expertise, Quality, and Reliability – for exceeding customer expectations in different customer segments. Winning CROs are chosen based on feedback from sponsor companies that they have worked on an outsourced project within the previous 18 months.

2023 WCG CenterWatch Global Site Relationship Benchmark Survey

Parexel was ranked as the “Top CRO to Work With” by investigative sites worldwide in the 2023 WCG CenterWatch Global Site Relationship Benchmark Survey for the second straight time. Among 34 CROs, Parexel received the highest average rating across all 26 performance attributes evaluated in the survey. In addition to receiving the highest average rating across all attributes, Parexel ranked highest on four out of the five attributes considered the most important to investigative sites and was selected as the CRO that investigative sites were most willing to recommend to a colleague.

2022 Catalyst Awards

Parexel was named a 2022 Catalyst Award winner by the global nonprofit organization Catalyst. Parexel was recognized for its Leveraging Gender Partnership to Advance Women in Leadership initiative that has evolved the company culture to one where women have the right resources and training to succeed.

FlexJobs’ Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2022

Parexel was recognized as a company to watch on FlexJobs' 10th annual list of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2023. Parexel is one of only five companies to have made the FlexJobs' list each year since its inception in 2014.

Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index 2022

Parexel is proud to be featured on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the premier survey benchmarking tool on how corporations across the US and beyond are adopting equitable workplace policies, practices and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees

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Top 12 Clinical Research Organisations (CROs) in 2023

• Author Company: PharmiWeb.Jobs
• Author Name: Lucy Walters
• Author Email: [email protected]
• Author Website: https://www.pharmiweb.jobs/

The global clinical trials market was estimated to be worth $38.7 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach £52 billion by 2026. In this article, we look at the top 12 CROs in the world , highlighting the companies driving this considerable growth and accelerating research and development across the globe.

Recognised as the world’s largest and most comprehensive CRO powered by Healthcare Intelligence, ICON provides outsourced development and commercialisation services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. ICON has a global network of offices in 46 countries, working on specialities including Medical Devices, Therapeutics, Government and Public Health Solutions, Clinical Research Services, Commercialisation and Outcomes, and more.

With approximately 70,000 employees, IQVIA is a leading provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. Operating in more than 100 countries, IQVIA’s Clinical Research solutions include Protocol Design, Phase I Trials, Phase IIb / III Trials, Site Identification, Patient Recruitment and Global Laboratories.

With more than 20,000 employees globally, Parexel is one of the world’s largest CROs and provides contract research, consulting, and medical communications services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. Parexel provides the full range of Phase I to IV clinical development services, with global study locations in Baltimore, US, London, UK, Los Angeles, US, and Berlin, Germany.

Syneos Health

Syneos Health is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organisation built to accelerate customer success, with 29,000+ employees working across more than 110 countries. The company’s Clinical Development services include Decentralized Solutions, Bioanalytical Solutions, Early Phase, Phase II–III, Phase IIIb – IV, Real World and Late Phase, and Medical Device and Diagnostics. In 2022, Syneos Health was the winner of the Life Sciences Award for Most Innovative CRO.

Labcorp Drug Development

With more than 70,000 employees, Labcorp is a leading global life sciences company with unparalleled diagnostics and drug development capabilities. The company is driven to help medical, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies transform ideas into innovations, and supports clinical trial activities in approximately 100 countries. Labcorp plans to spin-off its clinical development business, to be named Fortrea, in mid-2023.

Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, PPD is a leading global CRO with 130,000+ employees, working to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. The company offers a broad range of clinical development and analytical services, helping to accelerate medicines from early development through regulatory approval and market access. PPD works with a broad range of therapeutic areas, including Biosimilar Development, Cell & Gene Therapy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, Women’s Health, and more.

In 2022, Medpace celebrated 30 years of accelerating the development of medical therapeutics, with approximately 5,000 employees working across 41 countries. The company provides medical and regulatory leadership and guidance throughout the clinical development life cycle, along with efficient execution of studies around the world, from Early Phase to Late Phase. Medpace also earned the 2022 CRO Leadership Awards for Capability, Compatibility, Expertise, Quality, and Reliability.

Charles River Laboratories

With 20,000+ employees worldwide, Charles River Laboratories provides essential products and services that help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions across the globe to accelerate their research and drug development efforts. The company currently operates more than 110 facilities across 20+ countries, working on therapeutic areas including COVID-19, Cardiovascular Disease, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, and Rare Diseases.

WuXi AppTec

WuXi AppTec is a global company providing a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services to help pharmaceutical and healthcare companies across the globe advance discoveries and deliver ground-breaking treatments. The company currently has more than 45,000 employees globally, including 42,000 scientists. WuXi Clinical, a wholly owned subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, is a global CRO providing a comprehensive range of clinical development services for the development of pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices.

CTI is one of the 20 largest CROs in the world, with associates in 60+ countries across six continents, including 12 locations in Europe. The company is the highest-ranked CRO in the world after being named a winner in all 5 core categories of the 2022 CRO Leadership Award. CTI provides its partners with a full range of clinical services, across therapeutic areas including Rare / Orphan Diseases, Regenerative Medicine / Gene Therapy, Immunology, Transplantation, and Hematology / Oncology.

Worldwide Clinical Trials

With approximately 3,000 employees and operating in more than 60 countries, Worldwide Clinical Trials is a global, midsize CRO providing top-performing bioanalytical and Phase I-IV clinical development services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The company’s major therapeutic focus areas include Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Rare Diseases. In 2022, they were recognised for excellence and honoured in 5 categories in the CRO Leadership Awards.

PSI CRO is a privately-owned, full-service CRO operating globally, with 27,000+ employees in more than 60 countries. Committed to being the best CRO in the world, the company specialises in the planning and execution of global pivotal registration clinical trials, supporting trials across multiple countries and continents. PSI was named a 2022 CRO Leadership Award Champion in the categories of Compatibility, Quality, and Reliability.

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Top 10 Clinical Research Organizations in the Pharma and Biotech Industry

Pharma IQ showcases the top 10 Contract Research Organizations across the Pharma IQ network.

Much of the world’s population is in desperate need of better medical care. This need is a large driving force behind drug discovery’s mission to uncover new medicines.

The drug discovery process is complex and stubborn. The clinical stage, in particular, is resource intensive, demanding and high risk . A fine balance is required to execute this stage correctly.

Clinical Research Organisations (CROs) supporting drug manufacturers on their road to discover and approve drugs of the future by absorbing some of the clinical stage’s the burdens. Some of the activities covered are:

• Data research
• Project management
• Trials that are run post approval
• Pre-clinical

This relationship, which is built on trust and skill, can award manufacturers with heightened expertise as well as cost and time efficiencies.  These benefits come at the cost of duties such as intensive communication management , confidentiality concerns and regulatory considerations.  

The trend towards outsourcing to CROs isn’t expected to fizzle out anytime soon, especially as the spread of clinical trials across the world is growing. The global market is forecasted for strong growth, after reaching US$36.2bn in 2017 it is projected to climb by another US$20bn over the next five years.    

Read more: How to improve the success rates of clinical trials

What to look for in a cro.

Pharmaceutical and biologic firms need to select reliable partners who will add value to their medical research. This is a complex decision process involving the evaluation of many variables.                                                                    

We invited the Pharma IQ community to vote for the leading CROs in the pharmaceutical and the biologic industry according to their own experiences.

Our research base is made up of participants from mainly big pharma or biotech, SME pharma and consultants. Other entities included in this research include government bodies, medical device manufacturers and public hospitals.  

What criteria makes an excellent CRO?

The rising public pressure on medicine prices and spend by pharmaceutical firms, drives the appeal of outsourcing as a way to cool costs.

However, as pharma continues to wrestle with stagnant innovation levels, despite the funding boost to R&D pipelines, cheaper running costs are no longer the primary motive for outsourcing. In fact, this was considered as the last priority for our response base.

Read more: How to automate the data lifecycle to accelerate drug discovery

(respondent’s could vote for more than one answer) .

One respondent noted that on top of having a combination of all the listed attributes, they desired the ‘right’ culture and expertise within the actual group of people proposed for the study. 

Availability in certain regions, emerging markets, for example, and being update to date with recent regulatory changes were highlighted as key factors by some participants.

Just over 55% of our base agreed that quality is the most important differentiator when selecting a CRO .  

Regarding the importance of quality, in association with the Trial Master File ( TMF) and Inspection Readiness event , Ivan Walrath, Head of Audit and Inspection Quality at Pfizer noted how important it is CROs recognized the significance of this file. The TMF is what regulators will consult to evaluate the quality of the science behind the product at hand.

He added: “What I’ve seen when these partnerships have worked well is a good level of communication and integration between the people from the CRO and the sponsor working together to execute a trial.

“When you have a well-functioning team, even across those organizational boundaries, everybody gets behind what needs to happen from a quality standpoint, from a compliance standpoint and other important aspects like hitting timelines.”

Our  2018 study  found that Clinical trial supply has seen a reduction in wastage rates thanks to smarter integration and alignment with enrollment rates.

This improvement was achieved through Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS) and Interactive Response Technology (IRT), these tools were one of the top spend priorities.

Read more: Top five countries running the most clinical trials

The majority of the base noted that contract reviews would happen only when an issue came up or on an annual basis.

A few participants clarified that reviews are ongoing as part of their oversight to ensure compliance with contract services, but “not for the purpose of switching CROs, that would only be done in extreme circumstances of failure to perform.”

Ending a partnership with a CRO

Similar to 2017’s results, lack of quality was the aspect voted most likely to end a partnership with a CRO, attracting 65% of the votes.  A high level of mistakes was the next option with 12% of the vote.  One participant proceeded to clarify a legitimate reason being:

“Significant failure to meet obligations of contract, missing multiple milestones, without reasonable cause or appropriate risk mitigation.”

Pharma IQ top 10 CROs

1.       iqvia, 2.       parexel, 3.       syneos health, 4.       covance, 5.       icon, 6.       pra health sciences, 7.       ppd, 8.      chiltern, 9.      fisher clinical services, 10.   medpace, read our updated guide to the 10 biggest cros in the pharma sector for 2022.

Firms that attracted recognition from the network as rising stars include:

·         Charles river laboratories

·         pivotal, ·         psi, ·         pharmolam.

Further comments included: “After 25 years in the business, always with small Biotechs, I have learned that niche CROs provide the best service for our needs (Argint and CONET). I tend to avoid large CROs when at all possible.”

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Top 10 Clinical Research Organizations to Watch in 2024

Top 10 cro to watch in 2024: consolidation, growth, and innovation in the cro market.

The CRO market has seen an upward trend in consolidation, growth, and innovation through collaborations between organizations and large companies acquiring smaller ones. Some examples include Clintec being acquired by IQVIA, PRA by ICON, Thermo Fisher Scientific acquiring PPD, and Parexel being purchased by EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. This M&A activity has increased the demand for outsourcing and Functional Service Provider (FSP) programs in the research industry.

Recommended reading: Accuracy vs. Precision vs. Reliability

As we approach 2024, the top CROs to keep an eye on are PPD, KCR, ICON, IQVIA, PAREXEL, MEDPACE, SYNEOS Health, LabCorp, CTI, and PCI. These companies are not only leaders in terms of market share and revenue, but they are also companies that are emerging and making a name for themselves through strategic partnerships and innovative service offerings.

• PPD:  for example, has made a significant impact in the industry through a series of mergers and acquisitions, which have allowed them to offer a range of services, including differentiated clinical development and comprehensive laboratory services. Their experienced and highly technical organization has helped the company become a major player in the industry.
• ICON:  on the other hand, has acquired PRA Health Sciences, bringing together two organizations that share a similar culture and commitment to executing top-notch clinical trials. ICON is known for its expertise in clinical trial design and management, and in 2022, the company was awarded the SCRIP Award for Best Contract Research Organization.
• IQVIA : formed from a partnership between Quintiles and IMS Health, has become the largest CRO in the world, offering comprehensive clinical and commercial services in over 100 countries. The company is committed to growth and innovation, leveraging its data, advanced analytics, transformative technology, and domain expertise to continue expanding its offerings.
• PAREXEL: is another top CRO, transforming scientific discoveries into treatments by providing comprehensive clinical development services. The company was honored with the 2022 Global Customer Value Leadership Award in recognition of its leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.
• KCR : is a leading provider of clinical research services with a unique human-centric approach, taking patient engagement and feedback into account to improve trial design and execution. The company demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility through its initiatives and has experienced remarkable growth over the past 8 years.
• MEDPACE : is a global leader in biopharmaceutical and medical device trials, offering efficient management of clinical trials with innovative technologies. The company has a fully integrated clinical research campus that reduces the time to deliver results and enables easy management of global studies.
• Syneos Health: is a renowned U.S. CRO that specializes in providing biopharmaceutical solutions for late-stage clinical trials. With a diverse and inclusive culture, Syneos Health has been awarded the Society’s Eagle Award for Clinical Research and the Life Sciences Award for its innovative approach to clinical research.
• Accuracy Research Ecuador: a reputable organization dedicated to conducting high-quality research and analysis in Ecuador. With a strong emphasis on accuracy and reliability, this research institution plays a crucial role in providing valuable insights and data across various sectors. The team at Accuracy Research consists of experienced researchers and analysts who employ rigorous methodologies to ensure the integrity of their findings. In 2023, Accuracy Research marked a significant milestone by participating in the prestigious DIA Global Annual Meeting . This event, renowned for bringing together experts and leaders in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device communities, provided an unparalleled platform for Accuracy Research to showcase its expertise and innovations.

You may also like: How to determine Accuracy in Research?

In conclusion, the CRO market in 2024 is characterized by these trailblazing companies. Each brings unique strengths and innovative solutions, collectively driving the industry forward amidst a landscape of growth and consolidation. These top CROs are not just industry leaders in market share and revenue; they are pioneers shaping the future of clinical research with their strategic partnerships and state-of-the-art service offerings.

Unlock the Potential of Precision Research with Accuracy Research Ecuador : Your Gateway to Innovative Solutions!   Contact us today and elevate your project with our expert team, renowned for delivering exceptional insights and reliable results. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with a leader in the research industry.

Accuracy Research has a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified and trained personnel committed to carrying out fully compliant clinical research.

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Top 10 Global Clinical Research Organizations in 2021

In 2020, a global outbreak of the new crown epidemic disrupted the business activities of almost all companies, and the drug R&D and production of pharmaceutical companies was no exception. As a CRO/CDMO company serving pharmaceutical companies, its market share and global ranking have also changed when the global market order is chaotic.

　　 2021 Global CRO Ranking TOP10

Note: ①This list covers CRO in a broad sense, and its business areas cover pre-clinical research, clinical trials, pharmaceutical development, and commissioned production of raw materials and drugs (CDMO and CMO) related to new drug research and development; ②The two data of ICON+PRA are directly related Plus; ③Lonza’s income is 4.5 billion Swiss francs, and the exchange rate is converted to US dollars at 1.1; ④Catalent’s fiscal year is July 2019 to June 2020; ⑤Wuxi includes Wuxi AppTec and WuXi Biologics, and the combined income is converted to US dollars at an exchange rate of 6.8; ⑥Parexel has been delisted after being acquired by a consortium in 2017. Only the income announced in 2018 is here for reference.

Medicilon is a professional pharmaceutical preclinical integrated R&D service contract research organization (CRO), providing a full range of one-stop new drug R&D services, in compliance with Chinese and international filing standards, to pharmaceutical companies and research institutions around the world. Our services cover the entire process of preclinical new drug research, including drug discovery, pharmacology research and preclinical research. Our drug discovery services include chemical synthesis, compound activity screening and optimization, structural biology research, protein target validation, etc.; Pharmacological researches include process research of API and formulation, quality standards and stability research, etc.; Preclinical researches include pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicological safety evaluation, etc.

　　 Judging from the TOP10 list, the top two CRO companies in the world both have revenues of more than 10 billion U.S. dollars, which is a huge gap with the players behind them, and the dominant position is unbreakable. ICON’s acquisition of PRA has become a major event in the industry, which has greatly improved the ranking of the new company’s business scale, making it the third largest in the world in one fell swoop.

　　 Syneos is the only company on the list that has shrunk in performance (Parexel is not known), while WuXi is the only Chinese element on the list. Its growth rate is far ahead, and its ranking is steadily rising. Mainly because under the new crown virus epidemic, China was the first to restore order to resume work and production, and a large number of orders were transferred to China. Charles River, which once gave up the acquisition of WuXi, has now been surpassed by WuXi.

　　 Labcorp and Catalent have also benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the testing business and the vaccine production business, respectively. Companies with a larger proportion of clinical research businesses are more affected by the pandemic, but generally recover in the fourth quarter of 2020.

　　 This article gives a brief introduction to the world’s TOP10 CRO companies.

　　NO.1 LabCorp

The main business of LabCorp is clinical diagnostics. After successive acquisitions of Covance and Chiltern, it has entered the field of drug research and development, whether it is preclinical research or clinical research. One of the global leaders. After these two big mergers and acquisitions, the company has become the world’s largest CRO.

　　 In 2020, the company’s revenue is approaching US$14 billion, an increase of 21% over the previous year. Affected by the new crown virus epidemic, most industries and companies around the world are facing varying degrees of impact, but it is very good for the company’s diagnostic business. The new crown virus testing business contributed as much as 24.1% to the 2020 annual performance.

　　The company has a large and complete laboratory system not only in North America, but also in the world. In 2020, the total number of global employees will reach 75,000.

　　NO.2 IQVIA (Ai Kunwei)

　　 Although IQVIA is slightly lower than Labcorp in terms of performance and size, the industry generally believes that IQVIA’s influence is greater than Labcorp, which means I have to mention the company’s predecessor.

　　 In 2016, Quintiles and IMS Health merged to form IQVIA, which became the most important event in the industry that year. These two companies are the leaders and the gold standard in their respective subdivisions. Such a strong combination will inevitably lead to a giant, but because Labcorp has entered the field of drug research and development in about the same time, it has to be resigned. However, in the subdivision field, each has its own unique advantages.

　　 In 2020, the company’s revenue was 11.36 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of only 2.% compared with the previous year. The main reason is that clinical research is affected by the new crown virus and the progress is slow, especially in North America. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, various businesses have clearly recovered, and it can be predicted that the growth in 2021 will be better than that in 2020.

　　 In 2020, IQVIA will have 70,000 employees worldwide.

　　NO.3 ICON+PRA

　　PRA’s revenue in 2020 was US$3.183 billion, an increase of 3.8% over the previous year; while ICON’s revenue in 2020 was US$2.797 billion, a decrease of 0.3% over the previous year. The two companies have 19,000 and 16,000 employees respectively.

　　 In February 2021, ICON announced the acquisition of PRA for US$12 billion. The new company will achieve growth of more than 10% in the first year, and will grow by more than 20% in the future.

　　 These two were originally in the global TOP10. Relatively speaking, ICON is slightly smaller than PRA, but this does not prevent ICON from acquiring PRA in a way that small fish eat big fish. After the merger, the new company came to the third place in the world in one fell swoop.

　　NO.4 Lonza (Lonza)

　　Lonza is undisputedly the world’s largest CDMO company.

　　 The Lonza Group operates two major businesses, of which the Lonza Special Ingredients business (LSI) focuses on the microbial control of personal care products, and the volume within the group is relatively small. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology and nutrition business (LPBN) is Lonza’s main source of income, covering from early discovery, customized development to the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and innovative dosage forms, and is a well-known CDMO business in the industry.

　　 In 2020, the company’s revenue will be 4.5 billion Swiss francs, achieving 12.5% growth. The company also decided to divest the relatively small special component business and make structural adjustments to make the business more focused and improve transparency, productivity and operational efficiency.

　　 In response to the new coronavirus epidemic, Lonza used global production capacity to provide a full range of development and production services for Moderna’s new coronavirus RNA vaccine (mRNA-1273), with an estimated annual production capacity of 1 billion doses.

　　 PPD, founded in 1985 by Fred Eshelman, Ph.D., had its first IPO in 1996. In 2011, the company was privatized with a US$3.9 billion acquisition. It will be listed again on Nasdaq in the United States in 2020.

　　 I have to say that PPD has made great moves in China, including the completion of two mergers and acquisitions in China in 2009, and the acquisition of Igus and Baonuo, which were large in China at that time. Among them, Baonuo founder John V. Oyler founded BeiGene in 2010.

　　 PPD’s 2020 revenue is 4.68 billion U.S. dollars, achieving 16.1% growth.

　　NO.6 Syneos Health

　　 In 2017, INC Research and Inventiv Health merged to form Syneos Health, which once climbed to the third position in the world.

　　 In 2020, the company’s revenue was 4.42 billion U.S. dollars. It is the only company on the list that has suffered negative growth in performance due to the impact of the new crown virus epidemic, and its ranking has also declined.

　　NO.7 WuXi

Although WuXi Biologics and WuXi PharmaTech are two independently-operated listed companies, considering that WuXi Biologics originated from WuXi PharmaTech and the chairman of the two companies is the same person, the two companies are referred to as WuXi PharmaTech. Department of consolidated calculations.

　　 WuXi’s business covers all aspects of new drug research and development, almost all-encompassing and omnipotent, and it is already a global giant. Although it has not yet become the global leader, the influence that everyone feels is undoubtedly insurmountable by its peers.

　　The consolidated revenue of WuXi in 2020 is approximately US$3.26 billion, an increase of 31.4% over 2019. The number of employees reached 32,000. Regardless of income or personnel, the growth rate is far ahead of its peers. And judging from the development trend in recent years, it will still maintain rapid growth.

　　 The negative impact of the new crown virus epidemic on the company is small in scope, mild in severity and short in time. On the contrary, the epidemic has played a major role in promoting performance to some extent. On the one hand, the company has undertaken a number of R&D and production projects related to the new crown virus. On the other hand, the raging overseas epidemic has caused some orders to be transferred to China.

　　NO.8 Catalent

　　 Catalent was established in 2007, and its expertise is in the production and packaging of preparations, including oral, injection and respiratory administration methods. In fact, the company’s history can be traced back to Scherer, which was established in 1933. The company developed a rotary pressing equipment for soft capsules, which also explains Catalent’s global leadership in soft capsule production. In 2014, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

　　 Catalent’s full fiscal year is different. Most of them are based on the calendar year, while Catalent is from July to June of the following year. For example, the fiscal year 2020 is from July 2019 to June 2020. The company’s operating income for fiscal year 2020 was US$3.094 billion, a year-on-year increase of 22.89%.

　　The new coronavirus vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson is produced by Catalent.

　　NO.9 Charles River

The company’s business has three main parts: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Support. In short, they are animal models, safety evaluation, and production. .

　　The company’s revenue in 2017 was US$2.92 billion, an increase of nearly 11.5% over the previous year. It has approximately 17,000 employees worldwide.

　　 In 2010, Charles River prepared to acquire WuXi AppTec for a total price of US$1.6 billion. Because the plan was opposed by the company’s shareholders, the agreement had to be unilaterally terminated and WuXi AppTec paid 30 million US dollars for the break-up fee. Since then, WuXi AppTec has firmed its own development path and started a drastic expansion plan with this break-up fee. As the so-called “Hedong in ten years, Hexi in ten years”, Charles River has now been surpassed by WuXi. I don’t know how the shareholders who voted against it felt. Just in time for the sentence: “Yesterday you were indifferent to me, but today I let you not be able to climb high.”

　　NO.10 Parexel

　　 In 2017, the British private equity firm Pamplona Capital Management announced the completion of the US$5 billion acquisition of Parexel. Parexel subsequently delisted. Since then, its performance has not been announced. Here we refer to the data released in 2018, which is 2.5 billion US dollars and about 19,000 employees. It stands to reason that both figures have increased in the past three years, but the specifics are unknown.

　　 In 2021, the company decided to divest the information system and medical imaging business, which also includes the clinical trial management system, electronic data acquisition system, and registration management system. The new company, Calyx, has 2,300 employees. As a result, Parexel’s revenue and scale will shrink.

　　 In addition to traditional clinical research, Parexel is characterized by the preparation of registration documents and the ability to communicate with the drug administration department. The reason for this feature is that Jingding has a self-developed registration and declaration management system (eCTD software), and that it has established a strong registration and declaration team, of which more than 100 have been in the mainstream pharmaceutical market. Reviewers who have worked in government departments.

Related Articles:

Two Leading CRO Organizaitons in America in 2020

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Top 10 CROs to watch in 2023

Contract research organisations – also called clinical research organizations (CROs) – are essential to the pharma, biotech, and medtech industries, supporting their efforts to test, refine and market their latest drugs and devices. According to Global Market Insights , in 2022 the global CRO market was valued at US$56.5 billion and by 2028, it is expected to reach an impressive US$108 billion, with a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Growth is being powered by a surge in research and development expenditures and activities, and a significant rise in the number of clinical trials with the need for medical advancements . This is due to patent expiration, an increase in generic medications, and technological innovations like mHealth and big data influence on product development, all leading to greater outsourcing of work to CRO companies.

With a rise in research and development (R&D), we have seen record hiring levels within the CRO market in recent times. The Covid-19 pandemic drove large numbers of clinical trials in the race to find a preventive vaccine and treatment options which meant contract research organisations needed to expand their teams rapidly. As we emerge further from the start of the pandemic, 2023 is likely to be a period of bedding in, and we expect to see strategic growth for companies compared to hiring for volume.

In the last few years, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have progressively changed the marketplace and some of the largest CROs have been strengthened through joining forces or being bought out by other companies. Some of the most notable changes in the market have included:

• Clintec being absorbed by IQVIA

• PRA being bought by ICON

• Thermo Fisher Scientific acquiring PPD

• EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management buying out Parexel

With expansions, partnerships, and innovations continuing throughout the CRO industry, 2023 is set to be another interesting year. The top ten CROs to watch in 2023 are listed below, this list is based on our knowledge of the industry and is in no particular order but includes both industry leaders by market share and revenue, and up-and-comers who are steadily increasing their presence through strategic collaboration and innovative service offerings.

1. Labcorp / Fortrea 

Labcorp, provides comprehensive drug development solutions for a range of industries. In 2015, Labcorp completed its $6 billion purchase of Covance. The combination of Covance’s drug development leadership and Labcorp’s medical testing expertise has created the world’s leading health care diagnostics company. In addition to this, over the last decade Labcorp has made a further series of acquisitions including: LipoScience, Inc., Bode Technology Group, Sequenom, MNG Laboratories, and  Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx), which has strengthened their position in the market.

In 2022, Labcorp announced its plans to spin off its CRO segment. Moving forward the new company, Fortrea , which stands to “forward trials with ease” will operate as an independent publicly trade CRO, and provide drug and medical device services, including clinical trial management and commercialisation offerings. In a press release , Labcorp chief marketing officer Amy Summy commented, “The debut of the Fortrea brand is a defining moment in our journey to create a transformative force in clinical drug and device development.” She went on to add that the Fortrea brand “represents innovation and agility—improving the trial process and delivering life-changing solutions faster”. The separation is due to be complete in mid-2023 and it will employ about 19,000 people under CEO, Tom Pike, who was previously the CEO QuintilesIMS (now IQVIA).

In 2016, Quintiles and IMS Health came together and rebranded as IQVIA. As the largest CRO in the world, IQVIA operates in over 100 countries across the globe and brings together advances in data science, technology, and human science expertise, offering their clients an end-to-end clinical and commercial service. After a string of further acquisitions of smaller specialist companies, the company is going from strength-to-strength and remains truly at the forefront of the CRO world.

IQVIA generated revenues of $14,410 million for full year 2022 with growth rising by 3.9% on a reported basis and 7.8% at constant currency, compared to 2021. IQVIA closed the year with strong results and record bookings, they also marked the end of their Vision 22 plan where they exceeded their three-year goals despite the impact of uncertain market conditions. In a press release , Chairman and CEO of IQVIA, Ari Bousbib, commented, “As we begin 2023, the fundamentals of our business and the outlook for our end markets remain healthy. We expect continued robust demand for our differentiated offerings, solid organic growth and sustained operating momentum across the portfolio."

Parexel remains one of the world’s largest CROs, providing the full range of Phase I to IV clinical development services to help speed up and ensure the drug approval process runs smoothly. The company has a wide range of service offerings, covering nearly every type of clinical trial service to assist sponsors in running successful clinical studies.

In November 2021, Parexel was acquired by EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs for $8.5 billion . Together, Parexel and Goldman Sachs remain committed to delivering on the patient-first trajectory. The newly appointed board of directors bring together a wealth of life sciences experience. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Macdonald commented, “As the market evolves, we continuously review our structure to ensure Parexel remains well positioned to deliver integrated and innovative solutions for our patients and customers”.

Operating from 46 locations across the world, the top-tier CRO, ICON, offers a full range of consulting, clinical development and commercialisation services.

In 2016, ICON partnered with Genomics England on the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project, and IBM Watson for oncology research support to further expand service offerings and clinical research jobs in the genomic science and oncology sectors. In the last few years, ICON has completed a series of acquisitions, including Symphony Clinical Research, MediNova, MolecularMD, MedPass International and PRA.

In 2022, ICON generated full year revenues of US$7.7bn, up by 41.2% on prior year and 45% on a constant currency basis. ICON has worked to advance the speed and efficiency of clinical development which has supported a growing number of customer partnerships. Moving forward, the company remains focused on meeting the evolving needs of their customers and is looking to further invest in their comprehensive offering to deliver enhanced outcomes in clinical development.

Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is a leading global CRO that employs over 30,000 people worldwide. They are considered a premium CRO provider for many pharma and biotech companies, and pride themselves on their “4I values” - integrity, innovation, intensity and involvement.

After acquiring Evidera in 2016, PPD solidified itself as a leader in real-world research. The company has leveraged Evidera’s real-world evidence expertise to provide life science companies with an increasingly crucial element of the clinical development process, helping PPD to remain competitive. Since then, PPD has acquired Synexus (now Accelerated Enrollment Solutions), a patient recruitment company, and Bioclinica, a clinical research site business. Evidera has also further strengthened its capabilities by attaining Medimix, a global technology company providing real-world evidence insights.

In 2021,  PPD was officially acquired by ThermoFisher , becoming part of ThermoFisher's Laboratory Products and Services Segment. This means PPD are still operating as a CRO with traditional CRO services, as well as their accelerated site solutions. Together, PPD and ThermoFisher are able to further leverage their capabilities to bring life-changing therapies to market and are set for a very promising future with an established drug development platform, patient enrolment expertise and robust laboratory services.

CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services is a medium-sized global contract research organisation that has been in operation since 1999, and has driven over 150 new drug and medical device approvals . With offices in over 60 locations around the world, the company has a presence in North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle-East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

In 2021,  CTI announced they were acquiring Dynakin , a European based strategic consulting company, to create a stronger and more robust global full-service clinical research organization.

PSI is a fast-growing CRO that specialises in a range of fields such as oncology, haematology, infectious diseases and multiple sclerosis. Headquartered in Switzerland, PSI has a global reach that operates clinical trials in over 60 countries and has expanded into new locations rapidly over the last few years. The company’s mission is to be the best CRO in the world in the eyes of employees, clients, sites, and vendors, showing that their reputation is at the forefront of everything they do.

In 2022, PSI received CRO Leadership Awards in all five core categories, including Compatibility, Expertise, Quality, Reliability, and Capabilities across two respondent groups (Overall and Small Pharma), for the fourth year in a row.

A mid-sized CRO, Medpace focuses on clinical research for drugs and devices globally. Unlike many of the larger CROs, Medpace has not invested in acquisitions but instead chosen to reinvest in their own workforce and grow organically.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Medpace employs over 5,000 people across 40 countries. Even with a general shift towards hybrid working models due to the pandemic, Medpace’s smaller size helps it retain the intimacy of a cohesive office culture in contrast to much of the rest of the sector which is heavily home-based. This is thought to directly affect how employees feel about the job and how they interact with clients on a daily basis, offering a unique service and collaboration with their partners.

The company recently reported their full year revenue for 2022 was $1.46 billion, a 27.8% increase from 2021. In an earnings call , Jesse Geiger, President at Medpace, commented “We were able to grow headcount 15.8% from the end of the prior year in a challenging and competitive labor environment and employee retention and continued hiring for future business will remain top priorities in 2023.”

9. SYNEOS HEALTH

Formerly known as InVentiv Health Incorporated and INC Research, Syneos Health specialises in assisting companies with late-stage clinical trials. Headquartered in Northern Carolina, USA, the company employs more than 25,000 people over 91 locations worldwide.

Over the last few years, Syneos Health has levelled up with a number of collaborations, investments and initiatives to further accelerate their strategy, enhance their scalability and improve the efficiency of their operations. In 2022, the company generated revenues of $5,393 million, up 5.8% compared to 2021.

Since the start of 2023, Syneos has announced a number of partnerships, including ones with Fosun Pharma, Cryoport and most notably, Haystack Health . The combined capabilities of Syneos Health and Haystack Health will use AI to more effectively and efficiently identify and match clinical trial opportunities for patients, speeding up the process.

10. ERGOMED

With a global footprint covering over 100 countries, Ergomed provides specialised services to the pharma industry and the development of new drugs.

The company has successfully completed 9 acquisitions since IPO in 2014, including Ashfield PV, USA MedSource and most recently, in 2022, ADAMAS a leading global regulatory compliance provider. With a growing presence, Ergomed has grown its teams by employing people from top CRO companies whilst maintaining a small company feel.

In 2022, revenues rose by an impressive 22.5%. Looking ahead, Ergomed remains strategically focused on high growth market segments including oncology, rare disease, and pharmacovigilance.

Is your CRO aiming to grow this year?

At Proclinical, we provide expert clinical research recruitment services and workforce solutions for life sciences companies in search of professional personnel to set up and run clinical trials around the world. Our dedicated CRO delivery recruitment team are specialists in sourcing skilled and experienced professionals for a wide variety of roles at Contract Research Organisations, from preclinical and clinical research, through to regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and post-marketing research. Find out more about our range of workforce solutions and how we can help your business grow globally .

Interested in working for one of the CROs?

If you’re looking for a new role simply send us your CV or use our job search tool to find the right role for you.

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The Science-First CRO. ™

The scientific full service CRO and consultancy integrating strategic planning, regulatory strategy, and clinical trial execution to rapidly advance your complex or novel therapies.

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Our team of scientific experts is easy to work with, even for the rarest, most complex, and never done before novel therapies..

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Advancing Novel Therapies to Success with Veristat READ SPONSOR SUCCESS STORIES 

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Tackling problems big or small we can help.

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Be Part of the Team That Cares

At Veristat, we contribute and add value to our company’s mission - improving and saving lives. Whether you’re a scientific expert or an operations guru, explore the chance to become part of our fast-paced, agile team. 

Velocity is the world's leading integrated site organization.

Sponsors and cros trust velocity to deliver high-quality clinical trial data and patient care with unprecedented efficiency., simplify everything from site selection to study close-out.

Velocity unifies operational processes to provide world-class sites, reliable enrollment, and predictably high performance for your trials.

The right sites. The right investigators. The right partner for you.

Strategically located to give you access to diverse specialty populations, Velocity's sites are supported by next-gen technologies and patient engagement capabilities. Welcome to recruitment and retention reimagined.

Scale for a purpose: Supporting research programs worldwide

From the leading pharma companies, to the most pioneering biotech startups, Velocity supports those who are exploring new frontiers in human health.

Whether you’re ready to conduct a single-site study or a complex, high-volume clinical trial, contact Velocity.

Velocity Hosts Global CARE Council Summit

Velocity recently convened more than 40 leaders from around the world for a summit on Councils to Accelerate Research Excellence (CARE). Each CARE Council comprises key opinion leaders, Principal Investigators, … Read more

Doctor Finds ‘Energizing’ Second Career as PI

It’s easy to hear the enthusiasm for clinical trials when William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA, Principal Investigator and a leader of the Velocity Cardiometabolic CARE Council, discusses their importance to … Read more

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Despite a boom in tech funding and monumental advancements in AI/ML and in silico models, tech advancements have not yet translated into marked efficiency improvements at clinical research sites. Most … Read more

Podcast: Celebrating Excellence in Patient Centricity (With Sanofi and SCRS)

“[Patient centricity] is about taking those patient insights and their voice and translating them into actions. And that was really the impetus for what we saw in Velocity’s submission.” – … Read more

Quality. Continuity. Velocity.

WHAT IS ALTASCIENCES?

Altasciences  is a forward-thinking, mid-size contract research organization offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services.

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• CEO'S MESSAGE

Our Purpose

Our clients.

• COMMITMENTS
• CEO's Corner

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Imagine partnering with an integrated team that you trust, and telling your story once. Imagine a world where everyone and every project is of equal importance. Just imagine…

For over 25 years, Altasciences has been partnering with sponsors to help support educated, faster, and more complete early drug development decisions.

Our integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, and data management, all customizable to specific sponsor requirements.

Our shared goal: to help you make educated, faster and more complete early phase drug development decisions — to speed you to proof of concept and beyond.

OUR UNIQUE APPROACH

At Altasciences, we provide you with clear, customized roadmaps, supported by our real-time data generation, proprietary communication platform, and central program management and scheduling to help you get to clinical proof of concept, faster. 

Our purpose is to help you research and develop potentially life-saving therapeutics — and get you there faster, with integrated CRO/CDMO services, always moving in unison for maximum efficiency. Our commitment to quality, excellence, integrity, and respect help us deliver big impact with a personal touch.

Our Facilities

• Kansas City
• Philadelphia
• Los Angeles

1200 Beaumont Avenue Montreal, QC H3P 3P1 Canada    514 381-2546

10103 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66212 U.S.A.    913 696-1601

6605 Merril Creek Parkway Everett, WA 98203 U.S.A.    425 407-0121

575 Armand-Frappier Boulevard Laval, QC H7V 4B3 Canada    450 973-6077

1510 Delp Drive Harleysville, PA 19438 U.S.A.    215 256-5920

5630 Cerritos Avenue Cypress, CA 90630 U.S.A.    714 252-0700

130 Discovery Drive Scott Township, PA 18447 U.S.A.    800 300-8114

562 State Road DD Auxvasse, MO 65231 U.S.A.    573 387-4400

Sacramento, CA U.S.A. 800 300-8114

Altasciences has strategically placed research and manufacturing facilities across North America.

Our clinical trial facilities  include adaptive Phase 1 and 2 clinical pharmacology units for healthy normal participant and patient population studies, as well as capabilities for specialized assessments such as driving simulation , human abuse potential , for large and small molecules.

Our preclinical research facilities include 585,000 square feet of purpose-built space, where we conduct comprehensive regulatory safety testing , bioanalysis, and other research support services in a wide range of species for both small and large molecules.

We have state-of-the-art bioanalytical laboratories , including LC-MS/MS and a dedicated ligand binding large molecule lab, with over 200 specialized analysts available 24/7, according to program needs. We use the latest equipment, technologies, and advanced methods, and have the capacity to process over 60,000 study samples per month.

Our 64,000 square-foot CDMO formulation, manufacturing, and analytical campus includes an analytical lab , R&D formulations lab, multiple manufacturing suites including segregated and dedicated Schedule I and potent handling capabilities, and  warehouse space.

Our Origins

Founded as Algorithme Pharma

Built clinical site and bioanalytical laboratory, Montréal, Quebec

First contract with a US-based biotech company

Passed first inspection by US FDA Inaugurated HQ and new bioanalytical lab in Laval, Quebec

New clinical site opened in Montréal, Quebec

Chris Perkin appointed President and Chief Executive Officer

Became Altasciences and acquired Vince & Associates Clinical Research in Kansas City, KS

Expanded research campus in Kansas City, KS

Acquired preclinical safety testing business in Seattle, WA

Acquired manufacturing and analytical services facility in Philadelphia, PA

Acquired clinical pharmacology unit in Los Angeles, CA

Expanded manufacturing and analytical facility in Philadelphia, PA

Expanded ligand binding laboratory in Laval, Quebec

Acquired preclinical testing laboratory in Scranton, PA

Acquired preclinical testing facility in Columbia, MO

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Chris became CEO of Altasciences in 2010. He began his career at Huntingdon Life Sciences in England in 1975 as a toxicologist. He served as Section Head for preclinical development at Beecham Pharmaceuticals, as COO for CTBR Bio-Research in Montreal and then as SVP for Charles River Laboratories, responsible for seven preclinical facilities in the U.S., Canada, and China.

BS in Biology

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Cathy joined us in 2010 with the mandate of transforming our commercial offering to cater to the expanding innovator market, and now oversees our commercial strategy, including M&A activity. She started her career at CTBR Bio-Research Inc. (now Charles River Laboratories) and served as Senior Site Director of its Montreal facility.

BA in Psychology, MBA

Dr. Setnik joined Altasciences in 2019. In her previous roles as Vice President of Scientific & Medical Affairs at INC Research/Syneos Health (Early Phase), Senior Director, Clinical Sciences (King Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, Inc), and Research Scientist (formerly Ventana / Decisionline Clinical Research) she has accumulated impressive experience in early phase clinical trials, regulatory filing, lifecycle management, and strategic initiatives in business development and clinical drug development. Dr. Setnik is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Managing Director lead of the Cross Company Abuse Liability Council and chair of the Clinical Pharmacology Community of the Drug Information Association (DIA). She is also an active member and speaker at various congresses including the College on Problems of Drug Dependence; and is actively engaged in many aspects of abuse potential assessment including development of patient reported outcome instruments and contributing to post-marketing surveillance studies.

PhD in Pharmacology and the Collaborative Program in Neuroscience

Dr. Morelli is a member of the College of Physicians of Québec, Canada, with over 30 years' medical experience and over 20 years' global clinical research background. He joined Altasciences in 2013, as a GI consultant and then as Medical Advisor, followed by Clinical PI and now Chief Medical Officer. Prior to joining Altasciences, Dr. Morelli was the Global Medical Director at MDS Pharma for 10 years, overseeing five clinical sites in Canada, the U.S.A., and Ireland. Dr. Morelli is an Associate Professor of Medicine at McGill University Montreal. He also continues to be active staff at the McGill University Hospital Center. In addition, he is Director of Gastroenterology/GI Endoscopy at one of the McGill University affiliated hospitals. He has been lead Principal Investigator in numerous multi-national, multi-center clinical trials.

Steve oversees all of Altasciences' preclinical solutions and sites. He started as a toxicologist for Huntingdon Life Sciences. At CTBR Bio-Research (now Charles River Laboratories) in Montreal, he built the Safety Pharmacology Department, and then moved to China to establish the Charles River Shanghai preclinical facility, which became the first non-clinical facility in China to be certified as OECD GLP compliant. He joined WuXi AppTec in Suzhou, China, as VP of Preclinical Services, before coming to Altasciences in 2014.

BS in Biological Sciences, MS in Toxicology

Marie-Hélène oversees all of Altasciences' clinical and bioanalytical teams, formulation, development and manufacturing capabilities, and research support services, including data management, biostatistics, project management, and medical writing. She started her career as a Business Development Manager at Future Electronics. At Charles River Laboratories, she rose to become Global Director of Marketing, before joining Altasciences in 2012. She was appointed Co-Chief Operating Officer in 2020.

BA in Psychology, Exec MBA

David started his career in 2000 as a Quality Assurance Inspector at CTBR Bio-Research (now Charles River Laboratories). At Pharmascience, he developed and implemented a GxP quality system for both bioanalytical and clinical operations. David has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Chapter of the Society of Quality Assurance, and served as VP and then President. He joined Altasciences in 2012.

Julie-Ann joined Altasciences in 2014 to lead business development for our Kansas City site’s operations. In 2016, she was promoted to Vice President, Business Development and in 2017, was appointed to her current position. She began her career in 1998 at Origenix Technologies, a biotech company in Montreal. In 2003, she moved to CTBR Bio-Research (now Charles River Laboratories) where she progressed to Head of Marketing. In 2008, she was seconded to China as Director of Business Development for Charles River Laboratories Shanghai, and then served as Head of Global Marketing for the Charles River Laboratories Preclinical Division. In 2011, she joined WuXi AppTec in Suzhou, China, as Executive Director of Business Development for Preclinical Services, managing staff in China and the U.S.

BS in Exercise Science (Kinesiology), MBA

Robert oversees all of our business development activities. He joined Altasciences in 2012, focusing initially on the growth of our bioanalysis business. Prior, he worked at Charles River Laboratories as a Regulatory Inspector, where he oversaw the Bioanalytical Preclinical segment and managed government audits. He also spearheaded the training and process development programs for the Quality Assurance departments in several site locations. When he joined Altasciences, he transitioned to Business Development, with responsibilities that included key global account oversight.

BS in Physiology, Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

Mariano started his career with Ernst & Young in 1991 before joining Phoenix International as Global Director of Finance where he completed eight acquisitions. Subsequently, he held a number of Chief Financial Officer positions with various companies, including Galileo Genomics, Neurochem, and GFI Solutions. Most recently, Mariano was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Klox Technologies. He joined Altasciences in 2018.

B. Commerce, Graduate Degree in Public Accountancy, CPA CA, CPA USA

Consult the  detailed biographies  of our expert team members, by department

Recognized by the industry, Altasciences has the leadership, scientific, and operational excellence you need to move your programs from lead candidate selection to clinical proof of concept, and beyond.

December 2023

Insights Care's Most Trusted CRO to Watch in 2023

September 2023

Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2023 - Most Innovative Pharmaceutical CRO 2023 - North America

Scrip Awards 2023 Finalist - Best Contract Research Organization, Full Service Providers

August 2023

Pharma Tech Outlook Top Contract Manufacturing Organization 2023

Medhealth Outlook Top 10 CRO Solution Providers 2023

Life Sciences Review Top Integrated CRO 2023

CRO Leadership Awards 2023 (Capabilities)

October 2022

Life Sciences Review Top CRO 2022

CRO Leadership Awards 2022 (Multiple Categories)

GHP Biotechnology Award for Most Innovative Global CRO/CDMO 2022

November 2021

GHP Technology Award for Best Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Research Organization 2021

August 2021

Citeline Awards 2021 Finalist in Best Sponsor-Facing Technology Initiative

Named Best Mid-Size Early Phase CRO (North America) and Leading Providers of Preclinical Safety Testing Services by GHP News (Global Health and Pharma), Biotechnology Awards 2021

January 2021

CIO Review Most Promising Biotech Consulting/Services Company of 2020

Pharmatech Outlook Top 10 Bioanalytical Service Provider in Europe for 2020.

Best Drug Research and Development Company, Canada Global Health and Pharma (GHP) 2020 Biotechnology Awards

Citeline Awards Finalist 2020 for Best Patient-Facing Technological Initiative

August 2019

Altasciences' CEO Chris Perkin recognized as PharmaVOICE Red Jacket Award Honoree 2019

Pharma Tech Outlook Top 10 CROs

Most Successful Early Phase Research (Preclinical and Phase I)

Best Early Stage CRO of the Year - North America

February 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014

CRO Leadership Awards (Multiple Categories)

August 2018

August 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015

PharmaVOICE 100 Most Inspiring Leaders in the Life Sciences Industry - Chris Perkin, CEO

Finalist - Most Successful Early Phase Research (Preclinical & Phase I) Clinical and Research Excellence (CARE) Awards by Pharma Intelligence

Full-Service Early Stage Clinical Research Provider of the Year Gamechangers™️ Healthcare / Pharmaceutical / Biotech and Medtech Awards 2018

Gamechanger of the Year - Chris Perkin, CEO. Gamechangers™️ Healthcare / Pharmaceutical / Biotech and Medtech Awards 2018

January 2018

Best Early Phase CRO in North America Global Health and Pharma (GHP) 2018 Biotechnology Awards

December 2016

Scrip Award for Best CRO - Niche

August 2016

Most Innovative in Biotech TMT News

Best Full-Service Early Stage Clinical Research Provider in Canada Global Health and Pharma (GHP) 2016 Biotechnology Awards

October 2015

Annual Canada Awards for Excellence

January 2023

GHP Biotechnology Award for Best Global CRO/CDMO 2023

November 2014

Grands Prix Québécois de la Qualité

We partner with biotech and pharmaceutical companies of every size and spend, from startups to global leaders. Our client portfolio is deep, international, diverse — and working at the forefront of medical science.

The devotion, expertise, and degree of professionalism employed by the (Altasciences) team in all stages of development, and the support provided during the Clinical trial, were unprecedented. Joanna L Gode, Ph.D., Clinical Research Scientist, Drug Development Jamie L Doran, MSc, DABT, ERT, VP Drug Development Appili Therapeutics Inc.

The professionalism and skills (of Altasciences) ... were crucial to the success of our efficacy program... delivered with time and cost efficiencies. Their expertise in Bioanalytical development and method validation has proven to be added value... Maxime Ranger President and CEO glcare pharma inc

Altasciences' team (nicknamed the A-Team) is a group of diverse, motivated, and talented people dedicated to excellence, science, and making an impact. Click on the tiles below to get to know some of our team better. 

Marie-Hélène Raigneau, MBA

Dr. Simone Iwabe, DVM, PhD, DACVO

Dr. Denise Milovan, PhD, MA, CPsych

Ben Reed, BS

Dr. David Nguyen, MD, MBA

Dr. Gaetano Morelli, MD

Dr. Lynne Le Sauteur, PhD

Dr. Anahita Keyhani, PhD

David Grégoire

Francis Douville

Mike Broadhurst

Ingrid Holmes

Social responsibility.

Our people take pride in engaging in the communities where we work and live. Initiatives include  Dare to Give  breast cancer fundraising, our school supplies campaign, Holiday gift drives for kids, food and winter clothing drives, as well as other ways of giving back. We reflect our passion, commitment, and dedication in everything we do, from our community involvement to our work.

COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPANTS

We value the people who participate in our clinical trials and contribute to advancing medical science. We, in turn, provide a safe, comfortable, and caring study environment. We treat all our participants respectfully, with transparency and openness, at the initial recruiting and screening process, and throughout the trial period.

FOCUS ON ANIMAL WELFARE

We maintain an unwavering focus on the welfare of the laboratory animals in our care. Our entire preclinical staff is trained in laboratory animal care and focused on animal welfare and environmental enrichment—embracing compassion, sensitivity and adherence to regulatory guidelines.

CEO's Corner

With each quarter comes an opportunity for our CEO, Chris Perkin, to reflect on the past, the present, and the future of Altasciences. Read Chris’ special message to you.

ABOUT US - FAQs

Who owns altasciences.

Altasciences is owned by Novo Holdings A/S, a world-leading life science investor with a focus on long-term, sustainable value creation. Founded in 1992, Altasciences is a leading, fully-integrated, early drug development solutions platform, providing the pharma and biotech industries with a trusted partner for drug development, from preclinical safety testing through clinical proof-of-concept studies. In the past decade, the company has grown both organically and through acquisitions to have a significant presence in the preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology, bioanalytical, CRO services, and CDMO markets. Headquartered in Laval, Canada, Altasciences operates eight facilities in the U.S. and Canada and employs over 1,800 people.

What does Altasciences do?

Altasciences is a contract research organization that offers a flexible approach to early phase drug development. Its integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, formulation, manufacturing and analytical services, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, data management, and more. 

What is a CRO?

A contract research organization (CRO) provides support and guidance to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies with the research and development of their products, including generic or novel drugs, in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. A CRO is responsible for planning, conducting, and managing contracted research for its clients. At Altasciences, CRO support includes preclinical and clinical research, bioanalysis, formulation, manufacturing and analytical services, medical writing, scientific and regulatory guidance, data management, program management, biostatistics, and more. 

What is a CDMO?

A contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) is a company that supports pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and biopharmaceutical companies with not only the manufacturing of a drug product, but also its development prior to manufacturing. CDMO services are supplied on an outsourced contract basis. At Altasciences, CDMO services include formulation, analysis, method development, clinical supply, and commercial manufacturing.  

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