Merck and Quintiles sign innovative clinical development partnership
Unique strategic collaboration for development and clinical trial execution
Merck KGaA and Quintiles have entered into a new, five-year clinical development agreement. This strategic collaboration is said to be the first of its kind between a biopharmaceutical company or division and a biopharmaceutical services provider, creating a comprehensive process that integrates the expertise and experience from both organisations into a single, well-aligned clinical development engine.
In a novel approach to clinical development that is founded on a shared commitment to cost-disciplined science, the collaboration is intended to optimise productivity in the design and execution of studies with a focus on quality, speed and efficiency.
Under this agreement, Merck will shape and lead the strategy of its clinical development programmes, with Quintiles directing clinical trial planning and execution. Quintiles also will be a key contributor to Merck’s future clinical trial design activities, focusing on delivering superior performance based on optimised clinical trial design and execution strategies, using highly efficient processes and proven technologies.
To leverage fully the expertise of both organisations, leaders from Quintiles will collaborate in strategic decision-making processes affecting the development of Merck Serono division’s portfolio.
‘By combining the strengths of Merck Serono and Quintiles, we are creating a new model in clinical development that will unlock the knowledge and insights of both companies,’ says Annalisa Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Development and Medical at the Merck Serono division. ‘This is an innovative and unique collaboration that will help to translate the highest-quality science into efficiency and agility throughout our clinical trials, while enhancing our competitive position in an increasingly challenging environment of clinical drug development.’
Moving forward, Quintiles will be the sole-primary provider of Merck Serono’s outsourced clinical development services for its global clinical programmes. The agreement will span the full spectrum of clinical development, from Phase I through to post-marketing approvals. It will also allow the Merck Serono division to expand its reach globally by leveraging the broad local expertise of Quintiles to implement development programmes around the world.
'We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration provides,’ said Tom Pike, Chief Executive Officer at Quintiles. ‘We view this as a key step forward not only for our two companies, but for the way the industry approaches the development of new therapies.’
