Thermo Fisher and Lilly expand clinical trial materials relationship
Fisher Clinical Services will handle Lilly\'s in-house clinical trial materials manufacturing
Thermo Fisher Scientific and Eli Lilly have expanded their clinical trial materials supply chain relationship. As part of a new five-year agreement, the Fisher Clinical Services business of Thermo Fisher will take over responsibility for Lilly's in-house clinical trial materials manufacturing, packaging and labelling operations on-site at the Lilly Technology Centre North in Indianapolis, US. The transition will be completed by the summer.
By the end the year, Fisher Clinical Services will additionally handle the distribution of clinical trial materials for Lilly throughout North America. The agreement includes Fisher Clinical Services' purchase of Lilly's clinical trial manufacturing and packaging equipment.
The relationship has been expanded to support Lilly's new operating model, which will speed the delivery of innovative medicines to patients while helping Lilly reduce some of its fixed costs. Lilly employees affected by this expanded agreement and qualified individuals in the Indianapolis community will have the opportunity to apply for roles with Fisher Clinical Services.
‘This agreement offers both companies many opportunities for process improvement and technological innovation, all with the purpose of assuring that patients around the world receive their clinical trial medicines and supplies quickly and efficiently,’ said Marc Casper, president and chief executive of Thermo Fisher.
‘We are also excited to have access to a skilled workforce in Indianapolis to enhance our highly regarded team of employees.’
‘Lilly and Fisher Clinical Services have a two-decade history of working well together and we believe this expanded agreement is the best way to ensure that high-quality clinical trial material is getting to clinical trial sites around the world as efficiently as possible, while also leveraging our FIPNet (fully integrated pharmaceutical network) strategy of collaboration in those areas that are not considered strategic or core for Lilly to own,’ said Ralph Lipp, vice president pharmaceutical sciences r&d at Lilly.
‘Transitioning work such as the manufacturing, packaging and labelling of clinical trial materials to Fisher Clinical Services helps us also reach Lilly's corporate goals of reducing the costs of drug development and speeding innovative medicines to patients.’
