Vial teams with German central labs firm MLM

San Francisco trials contractor Vial has teamed with lab group MLM Medical Labs.

The accord – financial terms of which were not disclosed – will see MLM provide Vial with central laboratory solutions, study setup management, sample analysis and kit development services.

Vial will also be able to access MLM’s suite of sample management solutions in real-time through a secured clinical data portal.

The clinical research organization (CRO) will also benefit from a separate agreement MLM has established with TruLab to provide biopharma and other contractors with the precise location of samples from the collection site, real-time monitoring of protocol deviations, informed consent tracking, and reconciliation of specimen data.

Simon Burns, Vial CEO, predicted the partnership would help the CRO digitize and streamline the clinical trial services it offers to drug industry customers.

“We're thrilled to partner with the MLM team who will help us provide our sponsors with the utmost quality and efficient central laboratory solutions. MLM’s products help eradicate paper-based workflows, which eases the burdens of data entry and other monotonous tasks for site staff.”

MLM is headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, near Düsseldorf, and has additional branches in Memphis and Minneapolis in the US, which means the deal is in keeping with the expansion plan Vial announced last year.

More generally the deal fits with the growth plan Vial has undertaken in the past 12 months. In June, the firm announced plans to set up a cancer focused services division.

Before that the Vial established an ophthalmology focused contract services unit as well as a unit for drug companies developing treatments for skin conditions.

More recently Vial launched VialConnect, a clinical trials management platform built for coordinators and investigators.

In addition, in August this year, Vial teamed with Documenso, which an open-source digital signing platform with the aim of streamlining its use of documentation.

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