To provide further insight on how Ancillare addresses these challenges, we checked in with our Global Vice President of Supply Chain and Associate Director of Supply Chain Compliance.

Collaboration often develops into long-term partnerships, which can produce tremendous value. On the other hand, mismanaged partnerships can also spur frustration and dead ends. A common example is the consultative exchange, which often leaves Sponsors with a wealth of advice — but no path to implementation. Without the operational means to execute the strategy, they are back to square one.

The Strategy to Success

To make the most of consulting engagements, Sponsors should aim to partner with teams that not only demonstrate specialized knowledge, but also the ability to put their own advice into action. The difference between the two can be difficult to spot — but probing for anecdotal examples gives tremendous insight. It is always worth the time to ask prospective partners about the types of challenges they have been brought in to solve, and the specific steps they take to arrive at solutions.

Another indicator of an implementation-oriented partner is use of technology. Whether looking at companies of larger scale who offer full clinical trial management systems, or smaller teams with specialized programs and solutions, Sponsors will benefit far more with robust technologies at their fingertips.

Nuances of Clinical Supply Chain Management

Some aspects of conducting clinical research benefit from highly specialized support. Sourcing and managing ancillary supplies for clinical trials is a prime example. There are countless approaches to outsourcing ancillary supply and equipment management, but some will only place greater burden on the Sponsor when all is said and done.

Ancillare developed the Clinical Trial Ancillary Supply Chain (CTASC™) approach for precisely that reason. While Sponsors need to make informed decisions about their clinical supply chains, they also need support to innovate along the way. The consulting component of CTASC is an invaluable resource for Sponsor teams, particularly in the planning and start-up phases. It bolsters risk management in clinical trials, and ensures that protocol considerations do not take a backseat.

Sponsors can also choose to turn over their ancillary supply chain management entirely, reaping the benefits of an end-to-end solution. A fully managed CTASC means no loose ends after the engagement comes to a close — everything is handled, all the way through to returns, reclamation, and disposition.

CTASC™: a Holistic Solution

Ancillare is reimagining what consultative partnerships in clinical research can be. CTASC makes supply chain expertise practical, with hands-on support to bring entire strategies to fruition. Our engagements are flexible, and we work closely with Sponsors to address and relieve unique pain points. To find out how Ancillare can support your team, contact us today.

As published in Clinical Trials Insight 2021

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Dr. John Fitzgerald, Medical Director and Subject Matter Expert at Ancillare, shares insights from decades in the women’s health field to raise awareness of cervical cancer and other conditions, discuss the importance of preventive services, and highlight the potential of Decentralized Trials to advance necessary research.

Recent upheaval in the global supply chain can no longer be seen through a crisis-control lens. It is a new reality forcing leaders, teams, and entire organizations to fundamentally change their approaches. It is arguable that the impacts are felt most acutely in pharma, where delays carry colossal costs at every stage — both for companies and consumers.

What will it take to overcome grand-scale supply chain challenges, avoid massive business ramifications, and produce the best possible outcomes for patients worldwide?

As published in PharmaVOICE

Different Responses to Change

Any well-planned supply chain is built on a foundation of risk management. Contingency planning helps protect the flow of supplies from the impact of unexpected events and circumstances. For instance: early in the COVID-19 crisis, Ancillare anticipated the strain on the global supply chain and took measures to ensure vaccine trials would be properly supplied and Sponsors could meet their accelerated timelines.

The pandemic shed acute light on why preparedness matters. But the real solution to strengthening clinical supply chains goes a few steps further, bringing ancillary supplies back to the planning phases of a trial. Proactive planning takes a holistic view of the individual trial, the Sponsor’s entire program, and the ecosystem surrounding it (including past trial data, regulatory factors, and more).

CTASC™ as a Business Strategy

Clinical Trial Ancillary Supply Chain (CTASC™) is a key component of a well-planned clinical supply chain. The CTASC model blends proven supply chain strategies, data and technology, and human insight to innovate and optimize in the moment — and over time. Unlike traditional approaches to sourcing and managing ancillary supplies for clinical trials, CTASC is not just about making sure the right item is available and gets where it needs to go. Rather, it is designed to be implemented at the earliest stages, looking at the big picture to identify efficiencies from the start. Sponsors realize significant time and cost savings, and benefit from the operational efficiencies of a single vendor.

Decentralized Trials: Ensuring an Integrated Supply Chain

Sponsors conducting decentralized clinical trials must be able to count on their clinical supply vendors to coordinate necessary items in a highly organized fashion to maintain the integrity of the trial and its data. The CTASC model accounts for the specific configurations needed for the trial’s protocol as early as possible so that supplies are sourced, produced, kitted, labeled, and shipped according to the trial’s timeline. Single patient kits are assembled with precision and consistency for safety, compliance, and data quality.

Ancillare now offers Direct-to-Patient Kitting for global sites. Contact us to learn more.

Clinical Supply Chain Is Changing. Your Strategies Should, Too

Since its founding, Ancillare has innovated on behalf of Sponsors. Now, as the industry adapts to a supply chain forever changed, the ability to think several steps ahead has never been more necessary. Speak with our experts to find out how your trials can benefit from a fully-integrated CTASC.