Print This Story  Email This Story  Save this Link View PR Newswire's RSS Feed  Blogs Discussing this News Release  Search Blogs that Mention this News Release  Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services Click this link to view linked Blogging Services


Quintiles Book Shows Path to High-Performance Phase IIIB-IV Research

      Best practices for improving drug safety research also included in
"Strategic Research: A Practical Handbook for Phase IIIB and Phase IV Clinical
                                   Studies"

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients,
physicians, payers and politicians are calling for more information on the
risks and benefits of prescription drugs. At the same time, some organizations
are questioning the value of direct-to-consumer advertising.
    These two related forces have resulted in a surge of interest in Phase
IIIB and IV research.  A Tufts University report says that more than 73% of
New Drug Applications (NDAs) are associated with at least one Phase IV
research commitment, while the industry trade publication CenterWatch
estimates that Phase IIIB-IV research is growing at an annual rate of 20%,
compared with Phase II-III growth of 7%.
    To help pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers maximize the return on
their investment in Phase IIIB and IV research and deal effectively with post-
marketing safety issues, Hugo Stephenson, M.D., President of Quintiles
Strategic Research Services, has written "Strategic Research: A Practical
Handbook for Phase IIIB and Phase IV Clinical Studies."
    "There are clear differences in the design and expertise needed for
strategic research compared with registration research," Dr. Stephenson said.
"Given the current regulatory environment, I thought the time was right for a
handbook to help clinical researchers and brand teams apply strategic research
to address questions that are not answered at the time of registration, from
'real world' safety and effectiveness to competitive positioning."
    The book explores ways to motivate investigators and drive high-
performance site activity, taking advantage of study dynamics unique to the
peri- and post-approval period.  In addition, the book provides a handy
reference guide to the myriad of study designs possible in Phase IIIB and IV
research, with insights into the pros and cons of each approach.  It also
clarifies definitions for those new to this area.  For marketers, there are
valuable tips on maximizing the value of the study in terms of publishable
results and return on investment.  Finally, Dr. Stephenson explains the
nuances of conducting post-approval clinical research in different countries
in compliance with local regulations, including the Anti-kickback Statute and
the False Claims Act in the United States.
    The book concludes with an examination of the Vioxx withdrawal and its
implications for the pharmaceutical industry, including the need for more
prospective post-marketing research.
    "Strategic Research: A Practical Handbook for Phase IIIB and Phase IV
Clinical Studies" is available on amazon.com.

    About the Author
    Dr. Stephenson is president of Quintiles Strategic Research Services.  He
founded Health Research Solutions (HRS), an Australian strategic research
service provider acquired by Quintiles in 2002.  He is a medical doctor with a
particular interest in strategic epidemiology and drug safety risk management,
and he works closely with senior industry strategists to promote the use of
strategic research activities to support advances in pharmaceutical research.
    Prior to founding HRS, he served as a consultant to a number of leading
international pharmaceutical companies.  He is an Honorary Life Governor at
Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, has authored and co-authored many
articles, and he holds degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of
Melbourne.

    About Quintiles
    Quintiles is the global leader in pharmaceutical services.  We improve
healthcare worldwide by providing quality professional expertise, market
intelligence and innovative partnering solutions to the pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and healthcare industries.  Quintiles has 16,000 specialized
employees and offices in 50 countries.  For more information visit the
company's Web site at http://www.quintiles.com.


SOURCE Quintiles




Back to Topback to top

Related links:
  • http://www.quintiles.com
    CONTACT:
    Dick Jones, Media Relations, +1-919-998-2091,
    or media.info@quintiles.com, or Greg Connors, Investor Relations,
    +1-919-998-2000, or invest@quintiles.com, both of Quintiles