Perspectives from the Category Leader on International Clinical Trials Day
International Clinical Trials Day gives us the chance to honor the advancements in medicine brought forth by clinical trials. It is also a day to reflect on the enormous efforts that make clinical research possible.
Any given clinical trial involves dozens of roles with unique responsibilities — and it demands they are all met precisely. From clinical operations manager, to investigator, to patient, to biostatistician (to name just a few), each individual must be up to their respective task.
What can easily go unrecognized in the world of clinical research, however, is the lengths individuals and teams go to optimize trial operations.
Many trials today are conducted on a global scale. Even if the trial itself is not multinational, chances are an international CRO or other vendor is involved. Team members often communicate across different time zones, bending over backwards to ensure each part is in place. Success hinges on the ability of individuals to communicate, adapt to rapidly-shifting circumstances, and apply their expertise in innovative ways.
In short: the collaboration among clinical research professionals is the x-factor that keeps trials running smoothly.
At Ancillare, we see ourselves as a microcosm of this phenomenon. Ancillary supply chain is a world unto itself, with an ever-evolving regulatory environment, unique therapeutic area factors, and growing demands for cost and time efficiency. We developed the framework of Clinical Trial Ancillary Supply Chain (CTASC™) to meet all of these unique demands, creating a reliable and replicable system to serve Sponsors running global trials.
Of course, systems only work if you have the right people overseeing them. We depend on logistics experts, medical advisors, clinical development consultants, and many more specialists to address challenges and innovate on behalf of our Sponsors. That is why working with Ancillare is not just another vendor relationship — it is a strategic partnership.
This Clinical Trials Day, we are highlighting the individual areas of expertise that allows us to serve as much more than a supplier by taking you through each stage of the CTASC sequence.
1. Business Development
In our initial conversations with a prospective client, we do as much listening as possible. Then, we ask informed questions to further understand your pain points. That’s because, as a potential partner, we want to know how best we can support you, your teams, and the patients you serve. We recognize that each trial is unique. Therefore, individual CTASCs — and strategies for entire portfolios — must be designed with care and attention.
2. Innovation Team
A strong ancillary supply chain must be designed with an expert eye. Over time, we have expanded our team with Subject Matter Experts in a variety of fields so that we may best understand Sponsors’ unique needs, as well as other factors influencing clinical trial operations. Ancillare’s Innovation Team brings together specialists from all functional areas who work together to find the best solutions at the earliest stages of a trial so that any potential challenges are addressed immediately.
3. Clinical Operations
Clinical trials are highly complex, meaning Sponsors need a reliable resource who sees the big picture — particularly when it comes to compliance and efficiency. We do not only take an all-encompassing view of your current project; we look beyond the confines of individual trials to coordinate moving parts across your entire portfolio of studies. This also comes in the form of therapeutic area expertise, which can help ensure patient centricity and lend further insight to specific supply and equipment needs. Ancillare’s on-staff medical consultants and clinical operations professionals consult on all of these matters and more, and identify shared supply needs across portfolios with attention to the Sponsor’s bottom line.
4. Sourcing & Procurement
With decades of experience in supply chain management, our leadership has developed effective and innovative strategies that help our Sponsors get the most for their budget. We also pride ourselves on being a women-owned business and a Tier-1 supplier, helping clients achieve supplier diversity while offering the veritable benefits that come with those titles — because to us, they amount to much more than a box to check off. We are able to offer such creative solutions because of the variety of perspectives within our team. In a field as complex as clinical research, a forward-thinking mindset means better overall results for both you and the patients you serve.
5. Project Management
Ancillary supplies should not be an afterthought. We give full attention to every aspect your ongoing and upcoming CTASC needs, while moving as quickly and nimbly as needed. With a single point of contact, the little moving parts of your trial get the dedicated attention they deserve. This level of immersion is what enables us to help you meet or surpass critical milestones like site activation and first patient enrollment.
As the CTASC industry becomes more clearly defined, the value of strategic partnerships becomes more and more apparent. A consultative approach sets us apart from a traditional supplier or vendor that does not offer support beyond filling an immediate need.
On International Clinical Trials Day, we at Ancillare want to let you know that we see you. We know and appreciate the hard work that goes into managing your clinical trials. And we are proud to serve as your CTASC partner, helping your trials run as smoothly as possible so that you can continue developing treatments to improve and save lives for patients everywhere.
