PPD routinely strikes strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. But the clinical research organization has entered a different kind of partnership in Scotland with the goal of streamlining the clinical trials process and speeding the regulatory process for new therapies.
Wilmington, North Carolina-based PPD has entered an alliance with the National Health Services’s Research Scotland (NRS), the government body that oversees clinical trials in Scotland. When clinical trials are conducted in Scotland, CROs must work with hospitals individually. But under the new alliance, PPD can work with NRS to manage clinical trial processes and procedures consistently across all of Scotland’s hospital sites.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
“This is probably the first alliance of this type and certainly the first of its kind that PPD has developed,” PPD spokesman Ned Glascock said. “We believe this represents a new way of working with hospital sites to enable success through shared goals.”
The goals include reducing study startup times, streamlining regulatory processes and improving patient recruitment for trials. The initiative will cover clinical trials in all phases across multiple therapeutic areas, as well as biosimilar and post-approval studies.
“We are pleased to build on our relationship with PPD to advance our mission of securing lasting improvements to the health of the people of Scotland,” Cabinet Secretary for Health Nicola Sturgeon said in a prepared statement. “This initiative will further Scotland’s growing reputation as a global center of excellence for clinical research, offering a significant number of world-leading research sites and clinical investigators with expertise across a wide range of disease indications.”
Scotland’s population of 5.3 million people includes many who have participated in clinical research. PPD says Scotland has a high incidence and prevalence of diseases in key therapeutic areas that are targeted by clinical research. The PPD and NRS partnership will focus on a range of health conditions that include cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, stroke and women’s health.
