WCG launches site performance and partnership program for CROs

CROs need to evolve with drug industry demands according to WCG, which says a new alliance program will help contractors cut timelines and costs.

The project – known as the CRO Strategic Alliance Program – will grant CROs access to Knowledgebase, a library of trial operations data and technology.

According to WCG spokeswoman Carmin Gade, the library contains current and relevant investigator site performance data for 97% of the global clinical trial landscape.

“With access to the competitive landscape of clinical trials within each site, CROs make stronger recommendations to their sponsor clients to partner with the right sites to ensure optimal trial conduct.

“With additional datasets that include investigator mapping, competitive landscape at sites, historical site performance, resource augmentation, and trial conduct quality, CROs can make data-driven recommendations to ensure critical trial milestones are met.”

WCG has also promised to “facilitate working relationships” with trial sites for CROs that take part in the program.

Gade told us “CROs leverage WCG’s close relationships with 220k+ global investigative sites. As a contracted partner with these research sites, WCG is accountable for optimizing trial performance and delivery through the provision of services, resources and technologies.”

Capacity constraints

The program was prompted by observed market needs according to Gade, who said, “CROs routinely augment their existing capabilities through relationships with specialty service and technology partners.”

She also predicted it will help CROs overcome capacity constraints.

“With fewer than 3% of physicians participating in clinical trials as investigators, and study starts at an all-time high, the clinical trials industry is experiencing a crisis of capacity.

“Enhancing site capacity is a primary focus for WCG, and an important benefit realized by our CRO partners,” Gade said.

“WCG’s CRO Strategic Alliance Program is a partner-managed function, and any CRO who has an existing agreement with WCG can immediately start realizing benefits.”

WCG claims to work with more than 140 CROs worldwide and that its IRB division has supported over 36,000 clinical trials across 183,000 sites around the world.

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