Contract research organization

Short description: Company that is paid to provide research

In the life sciences, a contract research organization or clinical research organization (CRO) is a company that provides support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. A CRO may provide such services as biopharmaceutical development, biological assay development, commercialization, clinical development, clinical trials management, pharmacovigilance, outcomes research, and real world evidence.[1]

CROs are designed to reduce costs for companies developing new medicines and drugs in niche markets. They aim to simplify entry into drug markets, and simplify development, as the need for large pharmaceutical companies to do everything ‘in house’ is now redundant. CROs also support foundations, research institutions, and universities, in addition to governmental organizations (such as the NIH, EMA, etc.).[2]

Many CROs specifically provide clinical-study and clinical-trial support for drugs and/or medical devices.[3][4] However, the sponsor of the trial retains responsibility for the quality of the CRO's work.[5] CROs range from large, international full-service organizations to small, niche specialty groups. CROs that specialize in clinical-trials services can offer their clients the expertise of moving a new drug or device from its conception to FDA/EMA marketing approval,[6] without the drug sponsor having to maintain a staff for these services.[7]

Organizations who have had success in working with a particular CRO in a particular context (e.g. therapeutic area) might be tempted or encouraged to expand their engagement with that CRO into other, unrelated areas; however, caution is required as CROs are always seeking to expand their experience and success in one area cannot reliably predict success in unrelated areas that might be new to the organization.[5]

## Contents

* 1 Definition, regulatory aspects
* 2 Market size and growth
* 3 Top CROs by annual revenue
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Definition, regulatory aspects

The International Council on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, a 2015 Swiss NGO of pharmaceutical companies and others, defined a contract research organization (CRO), specifically pertaining to clinical trials services as:[8]: 10 "A person or an organization (commercial, academic, or other) contracted by the sponsor to perform one or more of a sponsor's trial-related duties and functions."

It further details the sponsor's responsibilities in its good clinical practice guidelines:[8]: 22–23

* (5.2.1) A sponsor may transfer any or all of the sponsor's trial-related duties and functions to a CRO, but the ultimate responsibility for the quality and integrity of the trial data always resides with the sponsor. The CRO should implement quality assurance and quality control.
* (5.2.2) Any trial-related duty and function that is transferred to and assumed by a CRO should be specified in writing. The sponsor should ensure oversight of any trial-related duties and functions carried out on its behalf, including trial-related duties and functions that are subcontracted to another party by the sponsor's contracted CRO(s).
* (5.2.3) Any trial-related duties and functions not specifically transferred to and assumed by a CRO are retained by the sponsor.
* (5.2.4) All references to a sponsor in this guideline also apply to a CRO to the extent that a CRO has assumed the trial-related duties and functions of a sponsor.

Guidance from the US FDA published in 2013 also speaks to the responsibility of the sponsor to oversee work of the CRO, including the circumstance where risk-based monitoring has been delegated to the CRO.[5] 2021 saw a major update to US FDA regulations related to providing the agency with information about CROs and how they "comply with FDA regulations".[5]

## Market size and growth

As of 2013[update], there were over 1,100 CROs in the world, despite continued trends toward consolidation. Many CROs have been acquired while others have gone out of business.[9] The industry is fragmented, with the top 10 companies controlling 56% of the market in 2008[10] and 55% in 2009.[11] In 2018 global CRO market stood at $38,396.4 mln. and is projected to reach $90,926.3 mln. by the end of 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.4% in the forecast period.[12]

## Top CROs by annual revenue

As of 2016[update], there was a 15.5% increase in R&D spending from 2015 to 2020.[13] The list of contract research organizations includes the following notable companies worldwide:

1. Labcorp ($14.00B revenue in 2020)[14]
2. IQVIA ($11.35B revenue in 2020)[15]
3. PPD, Inc. ($4.68B revenue in 2020)[16]
4. Syneos Health ($4.41B revenue in 2020)[17]
5. Charles River Laboratories ($2.92B revenue in 2020)[18]
6. ICON PLC ($2.79B revenue in 2020)[19]
7. Parexel ($2.44B revenue in 2017)
8. Wuxi Apptec ($1.01B revenue in 2017)
9. Medpace ($0.92B revenue in 2020)[20]

## See also

* List of pharmaceutical companies
* Contract manufacturing organization
* Research organization

## References

1. ↑ Nick Lucas (2021-04-09). "Contract Research Organizations: Key Partners In The Drug Development Journey". Forbes.com. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/04/09/contract-research-organizations-key-partners-in-the-drug-development-journey/?sh=12ac5f057a58. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
2. ↑ "The CRO Market", Association of Clinical Research Organizations.
3. ↑ "The CRO Market" , Association of Clinical Research Organizations.
4. ↑ "Contract Research Organization". https://www.activa-cro.com/.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Sather, Sandra; Lawyer, Jennifer (30 June 2022). "CRO Oversight Essentials". Clinical Leader (Pennsylvania, United States: VertMarkets). https://www.clinicalleader.com/doc/cro-oversight-essentials-0002. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
6. ↑ Fanelli, Alex (2017). "Contract Research Organizations (CRO)". http://www.cell-transfection.com/transfection-cro-services/.
7. ↑ "Bio-Definitions", Biotech Media.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 E6(R2) Good Clinical Practice International Council on Harmonisation good clinical practice, 66 ppp, amended Nov 2016, accessed 30 Jan 2018
9. ↑ "CRO Industry Could See More Consolidation, Experts Say" outsourcing-pharma.com, 2013-06-20 Retrieved 2013-09-24
10. ↑ The Top 10 Contract Research Organizations -Positioning, performance and SWOT analyses bioportfolio.com, 5 February 2010
11. ↑ "The CRO Market Outlook!publisher =globalbusinessinsights.com". http://www.globalbusinessinsights.com/content/rbcr0015m.pdf.
12. ↑ "Contract Research Organizations (CRO) services market". fortunebusinessinsights.com. 2019-07-02. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/contract-research-organization-cro-services-market-100864.
13. ↑ Ed Miseta (11 February 2016). "Clinical Outsourcing Market To See Continued Growth Through 2020". http://www.clinicalleader.com/doc/clinical-outsourcing-market-to-see-continued-growth-through-0001.
14. ↑ "Labcorp Announces 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results and Provides 2021 Guidance". Businesswire. 2021-02-11. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005467/en/Labcorp-Announces-2020-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-Results-and-Provides-2021-Guidance.
15. ↑ "IQVIA Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results, Raises Full-Year 2021 Guidance". Businesswire. 2021-02-10. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005238/en/IQVIA-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2020-Results-Raises-Full-Year-2021-Guidance.
16. ↑ "PPD Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results". Businesswire. 2021-02-23. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210223006094/en/PPD-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2020-Results.
17. ↑ "Syneos Health Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results". Globenewswire (Press release). 2021-02-18.
18. ↑ "Charles River Laboratories Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results and Provides 2021 Guidance". Businesswire. 2021-02-17. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210217005517/en/Charles-River-Laboratories-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2020-Results-and-Provides-2021-Guidance.
19. ↑ "ICON Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results". Yahoo Finance. 2021-02-24. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/icon-reports-fourth-quarter-full-110100444.html.
20. ↑ "Medpace Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results". Nasdaq. 2021-02-15. https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/medpace-holdings-inc.-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2020-results-2021-02-15.

Template:Contract research organization

* v
* t
* e

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the United Kingdom

* Manufacturing in the United Kingdom
* Economy of the United Kingdom

companies|

| current|

* AAH Pharmaceuticals
* Alliance Boots
* Astex
* AstraZeneca (MedImmune)
* BTG
* Cyclacel
* Dechra Pharmaceuticals
* GE Healthcare
* Genus
* GlaxoSmithKline
* Hikma Pharmaceuticals
* Indivior
* MacFarlan Smith
* Norbrook Group
* Oxford BioMedica
* Pfizer UK
* Phytopharm
* Proximagen
* Shire
* Silence Therapeutics
* TBS GB
* Unipath
* Vectura Group
* Vernalis
* ViiV Healthcare

|

defunct|

* Allen & Hanburys
* Amersham
* Beecham Group
* Cambridge Antibody Technology
* Celltech
* Chiroscience
* Distillers Company
* Fisons
* Glaxo Wellcome
* ICI
* Reliant Pharmaceuticals
* Renovo
* Zeneca

government and
regulatory bodies|

* Commission on Human Medicines
* Department of Health
* European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines
* European Medicines Agency
* Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
* National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health
* National Patient Safety Agency
* Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
* Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
* General Pharmaceutical Council
* Scottish Medicines Consortium
* Veterinary Medicines Directorate

industry and
professional bodies|

* Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
* Chemical Industries Association
* European Federation of Biotechnology
* European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
* Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
* Pharmacists' Defence Association
* Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
* Worshipful Society of Apothecaries

books and journals|

* Bandolier
* Bad Pharma (2012)
* British National Formulary
* British National Formulary for Children
* Monthly Index of Medical Specialities
* Side Effects (2008)
* The Pharmaceutical Journal

other|

* British Approved Name
* British Pharmacopoeia
* DrugScope
* European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
* European Pharmacopoeia
* List of world's largest pharmaceutical companies
* Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
* Wellcome Trust

* category

* v
* t
* e

Pharmaceutical industry in the United States

Companies|

* Abbott Laboratories
* Acorda Therapeutics
* Aderis Pharmaceuticals
* Adolor Corporation
* Alcon
* Alexion Pharmaceuticals
* Alkermes
* Allergan
* Alza
* Amgen
* Amylin Pharmaceuticals
* ARIAD Pharmaceuticals
* Avax Technologies
* more...

Regulatory bodies|

* Food and Drug Administration

Professional bodies|

* American Pharmacists Association

Miscellaneous|

* Contract research organization
* Clinical research associate
* Drug rep
* Pharmaceutical industry
* in Bangladesh
* in India
* in China
* in Pakistan
* in the UK

Books|

* The Billion-Dollar Molecule (1994)
* Mad in America (2002)
* Big Pharma (2006)
* Side Effects (2008)
* Anatomy of an Epidemic (2010)
* Bad Pharma (2012)

Lists|

* List of drugs
* List of largest pharmaceutical settlements
* List of off-label promotion pharmaceutical settlements
* List of pharmaceutical companies
* List of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the UK

Related templates|

* Pharmaceutical industry by country
* in the UK
* of the US
* Medicine
* Public health

Related categories|

* Pharmaceutical companies of the United States
* of Australia
* of Canada
* of Finland
* of India
* of Japan
* of Switzerland
* of the UK

Category

* v
* t
* e

Pharmaceutical industry by country

* Bangladesh
* China
* India
* Pakistan
* Russia
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom
* United States

List of pharmaceutical companies

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract research organization. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Biology:Contract_research_organization&oldid=4337348"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template