Cenduit(TM) combines state-of-the-art technology with clinical trial
expertise
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Quintiles
Transnational Corp. and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) today
announced the creation of a joint venture, called Cenduit(TM), that
provides seamless, integrated Interactive Response Technology (IRT)
services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology product development.
IRT is a technology platform that integrates patient interaction
systems through a combination of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems,
Web interfaces and handheld electronic patient diaries. The use of IRT is
expected to grow as pharmaceutical companies look to streamline and better
control increasingly complex drug development processes.
"Cenduit brings together best-in-class technology, exceptional customer
service and global clinical trial expertise to give biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies a seamless, integrated 'one-stop' service for
support of their clinical development programs," said Jogin Desai, Chief
Executive Officer of Cenduit. "Our efficiency and experience in IRT
services and clinical project management offers the drug development
industry a conduit to the broadest, most accurate, real-time view of every
detail in the process -- and a very competitive solution." The name
"Cenduit" signifies the channel through which information can move directly
and freely. The prefix evokes the idea of a central point or hub.
Thermo Fisher contributes to the joint venture its Fisher Clinical
Services IRT operations in three locations -- Horsham, U.K.; Allentown,
Penn., USA; and Basel, Switzerland. Quintiles brings its IRT operations in
Bangalore, India, and Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, which is the
venture's headquarters.
Desai said the opportunity for an IRT business is strong and growing:
"Interactive Voice Response is used in an estimated 30% of all Phase II-III
clinical trials, and this rate is expanding rapidly. With advances in
technology leading to even broader application through Interactive Response
Technology, we believe the market will grow at a rate of about 20% per
year, and we plan to offer a service that can aggressively capitalize on
this opportunity."
Cenduit will be guided by a joint venture board of directors, composed
of representatives from each of the founder companies. The board will
provide guidance on operational and strategic matters.
"Our companies have been looking for an opportunity to leverage the
particular service strengths we bring to the drug development process,"
said Marijn E. Dekkers, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thermo
Fisher Scientific. "With Cenduit, we have combined two leaders -- the
clinical supply chain expertise of our Fisher Clinical Services business
with the clinical development expertise of Quintiles -- to offer a
scalable, seamless technology platform."
The two parent companies have worked together to create something new
for customers to provide them with more control over the myriad details of
their drug development processes. "These are two businesses that know the
complexity of clinical trials and the optimal cohesiveness and integration
of their many work and data streams," said Oppel Greeff, Quintiles' Vice
Chairman, Operations. "The joint venture that we have created through
Cenduit offers the drug development industry the broadest, most accurate
view of every detail in the process."
Desai, the CEO, previously served in Quintiles as Executive Director,
Quintiles Cardiac Safety Services. A medical doctor, Desai has had
extensive prior work experience in clinical research in the United States.
He joined Quintiles India in 2002 and has been instrumental in building and
expanding a highly successful global ECG business, which has staff in India
(Mumbai, Bangalore), the UK (Bracknell), US (RTP) and Japan (Tokyo).
About Quintiles Quintiles Transnational Corp. is powering the next
generation of healthcare by providing a broad range of professional
services in drug development, financial partnering and commercialization
for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. With
17,000 employees and offices in more than 50 countries, it is focused on
providing customer-centric solutions that are the gold standard of the
industry. For more information, visit http://www.quintiles.com.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in
serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier,
cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we
employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical
and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs,
universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as
environmental and industrial process control settings. Visit
http://www.thermofisher.com.
SOURCE Quintiles Transnational Corp.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.quintiles.com
http://www.thermofisher.com
CONTACT:
Dick Jones, Media Relations, +1-919-998-2091,
media.info@quintiles.com, Greg Connors, Investor Relations,
+1-919-998-2000, invest@quintiles.com, both of Quintiles
Transnational Corp.
|
