Steve Snyder04.05.10
The annual Society of Toxicology (SOT) meeting was recently held in March at Salt Lake City, UT. This annual meeting brings together sponsors, scientists, suppliers, and representatives of preclinical CROs. In past years, I have taken the opportunity to share the news from this meeting with you. The good news is that business seems to be slowly improving for preclinical CRO industry, which means we may be seeing a rebound in customer demand. Rather than to continue to focus on the challenges that face the industry, I decided to take a break this month by providing some well-deserved recognition for the preclinical CRO industry . . . in my own special way.
The entertainment industry has the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe awards that recognize outstanding achievement. This year, I decided to invent the "Toxy" award to recognize achievement in preclinical drug development (it was either that or the "Adme"). The goal of this column is to celebrate the highlights of the preclinical CRO industry. The criteria are based on my observations, are certainly not all-inclusive, and should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular CRO. Read on and I think you'll see what I mean:
Presented to the cleanest preclinical CRO facility in the industry, the Toxy goes to WIL Research in Ashland, OH. Unbelievably clean! They reportedly have staff that just cleans the facility all day long. If you subscribe to the belief that facility cleanliness is a reflection of operational quality, this organization certainly has checked that box.
Presented to the preclinical CRO with the best conference rooms for sponsor visits, the Toxy goes to SNBL-USA located in Everett, WA. Refrigerators stocked with beverages, internet access, and even flat-screen TVs: these features are a nice touch, especially after cross-country travel. While amenities don't make the CRO, these facilities underscore their commitment to make client visits a positive experience.
Presented to the preclinical CRO that offers lower cost alternatives, the Toxy goes to Sinclair Research in Columbia, MO. Sinclair's self-proclaimed willingness to compete on price can provide options for cost-sensitive clients. Price is just one part of the outsourcing experience, but this could be the right provider for right client.
Presented to the preclinical CRO that is happiest to see the end of winter, the Toxy goes to Covance in Madison, WI. Because they had a snowstorm almost every time I visited there this winter, the staff would get nervous when they heard that I was scheduled to visit. In fairness, it was a harsh winter in much of the midwest and in the east, too. In Madison, even though they didn't surpass their record snowfall amounts, I started to worry that they might get a little "loopy" after such a harsh winter, but that wasn't the case. Apparently, they just focused their energy into providing a quality product.
Presented to those preclinical CROs that also offer sightseeing opportunities, the Toxies go to . . .
Incredibly, there are some sponsors that consider the proximity to tourist attractions (e.g., skiing) as a determining factor in the selection of outsourcing providers.
Presented to those preclinical CROs in Montreal, the Toxies go to . . .
These CROs also get an honorable mention for the "Science and Tourism" Award as Montreal is reportedly a great location for Christmas shopping. Congratulations on winning the Olympic gold medal.
Presented to CROs that "fly under the radar" by not receiving too much attention, but still delivering solid work, the Toxies go to . . .
Presented to the preclinical CRO that made a recent notable addition to its staff, the Toxy goes to Frontier Biosciences in Chengdu, China. Respect for privacy prevents me from revealing the name of the scientist but this addition was a win for both parties. For a CRO in an emerging market this hire could play a significant role in establishing credibility.
Presented to the preclinical CRO whose stock is no longer publicly traded, the Toxy goes to Huntingdon Life Sciences. One of the larger CROs, it recently transitioned to a privately-held company. In my opinion, this is a good move for their clients since the management team can now focus business without worrying about the public scrutiny of the financial sector.
Presented to the preclinical CRO that has contributed to boosting its local economy, the Toxy goes to MPI Research in Mattawan, MI. One of the faster growing CROs, the decision to invest and grow locally not only bodes well for the southwest Michigan economy but it has established MPI as a significant player in the preclinical CRO industry.
Presented to the preclinical CRO that announced a recent partnership or acquisition, the Toxy goes to Ricerca Biosciences for the acquisition of MDS Pharma's assets in Lyon, France, Bothell, WA and Taipei, Taiwan. Ricerca emerges with discovery research services and expanded preclinical toxicology services to supplement their existing capabilities. After a year of poor economic news across the preclinical CRO industry, it was nice to hear something positive.
Presented to those preclinical CROs that seek to establish capabilities as alternatives to North American and European-based CROs, the Toxies go to . . .
Presented to those preclinical CROs based in Europe, the Toxies go to . . .
The self-explanatory Toxy goes to Covance in Chandler, AZ.
That completes the first edition of the "Toxy" awards. I made an attempt to acknowledge as many preclinical CROs as possible, but whenever you do any kind of recognition like this, someone always gets left out. Sorry about that. I do suggest that you check out the Contract Pharma Contract Services Directory and the Society of Toxicology website. Both sites have links to resources and annual meetings where you can find an extensive list of suppliers and service providers. Having access to these resources can only help you to make more informed purchasing and outsourcing decisions. For the preclinical CROs that I did mention, I'm sure some may feel that I could have portrayed them differently. The thing about the Toxies is, there is no nomination process and no balloting. It's a panel of one! Still, it speaks volumes that there's such variety among preclinical CROs that we could have all these categories!
The entertainment industry has the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe awards that recognize outstanding achievement. This year, I decided to invent the "Toxy" award to recognize achievement in preclinical drug development (it was either that or the "Adme"). The goal of this column is to celebrate the highlights of the preclinical CRO industry. The criteria are based on my observations, are certainly not all-inclusive, and should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular CRO. Read on and I think you'll see what I mean:
The "Germ-a-phobe" Award
Presented to the cleanest preclinical CRO facility in the industry, the Toxy goes to WIL Research in Ashland, OH. Unbelievably clean! They reportedly have staff that just cleans the facility all day long. If you subscribe to the belief that facility cleanliness is a reflection of operational quality, this organization certainly has checked that box.
The "Home Away from Home" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO with the best conference rooms for sponsor visits, the Toxy goes to SNBL-USA located in Everett, WA. Refrigerators stocked with beverages, internet access, and even flat-screen TVs: these features are a nice touch, especially after cross-country travel. While amenities don't make the CRO, these facilities underscore their commitment to make client visits a positive experience.
The "Southwest Airlines" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO that offers lower cost alternatives, the Toxy goes to Sinclair Research in Columbia, MO. Sinclair's self-proclaimed willingness to compete on price can provide options for cost-sensitive clients. Price is just one part of the outsourcing experience, but this could be the right provider for right client.
The "Groundhog Day" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO that is happiest to see the end of winter, the Toxy goes to Covance in Madison, WI. Because they had a snowstorm almost every time I visited there this winter, the staff would get nervous when they heard that I was scheduled to visit. In fairness, it was a harsh winter in much of the midwest and in the east, too. In Madison, even though they didn't surpass their record snowfall amounts, I started to worry that they might get a little "loopy" after such a harsh winter, but that wasn't the case. Apparently, they just focused their energy into providing a quality product.
The "Science and Tourism" Award
Presented to those preclinical CROs that also offer sightseeing opportunities, the Toxies go to . . .
- Charles River in Reno, NV two words: "Lake Tahoe"
- SNBL-USA in Everett, WA great seafood and lots of opportunities to explore the northwest
- Charles River in Edinburgh, Scotland the castle is unbelievable
- RCC (Harlan) in Switzerland never been there but wouldn't think you could go wrong in Switzerland
Incredibly, there are some sponsors that consider the proximity to tourist attractions (e.g., skiing) as a determining factor in the selection of outsourcing providers.
The "Most Likely to Root for Team Canada In Olympic Hockey" Award
Presented to those preclinical CROs in Montreal, the Toxies go to . . .
- ITR Laboratories
- LAB Research
- Charles River Montreal
These CROs also get an honorable mention for the "Science and Tourism" Award as Montreal is reportedly a great location for Christmas shopping. Congratulations on winning the Olympic gold medal.
The "Stealth" Award
Presented to CROs that "fly under the radar" by not receiving too much attention, but still delivering solid work, the Toxies go to . . .
- Calvert Laboratories in Scott Township, PA
- BASi in Mt. Vernon, IN
- Charles River Ohio in Spencerville, OH
- SRI International in Menlo Park, CA
- Experimur in Chicago, IL
- Battelle in Columbus, OH
The "Best Hire" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO that made a recent notable addition to its staff, the Toxy goes to Frontier Biosciences in Chengdu, China. Respect for privacy prevents me from revealing the name of the scientist but this addition was a win for both parties. For a CRO in an emerging market this hire could play a significant role in establishing credibility.
The "Wall Street to Main Street" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO whose stock is no longer publicly traded, the Toxy goes to Huntingdon Life Sciences. One of the larger CROs, it recently transitioned to a privately-held company. In my opinion, this is a good move for their clients since the management team can now focus business without worrying about the public scrutiny of the financial sector.
The "Economic Stimulus" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO that has contributed to boosting its local economy, the Toxy goes to MPI Research in Mattawan, MI. One of the faster growing CROs, the decision to invest and grow locally not only bodes well for the southwest Michigan economy but it has established MPI as a significant player in the preclinical CRO industry.
The "Merger and Acquisition" Award
Presented to the preclinical CRO that announced a recent partnership or acquisition, the Toxy goes to Ricerca Biosciences for the acquisition of MDS Pharma's assets in Lyon, France, Bothell, WA and Taipei, Taiwan. Ricerca emerges with discovery research services and expanded preclinical toxicology services to supplement their existing capabilities. After a year of poor economic news across the preclinical CRO industry, it was nice to hear something positive.
The "Emerging Markets" Award
Presented to those preclinical CROs that seek to establish capabilities as alternatives to North American and European-based CROs, the Toxies go to . . .
- WuXi AppTec in St. Paul, MN and China: well-established bioanalytical capabilities in their China facilities
- Frontier Biosciences in Chengdu, China
- Advinus Therapeutics in Bangelore, India: successfully conducted toxicology studies to support a U.S. IND package.
The "Across the Pond"Award
Presented to those preclinical CROs based in Europe, the Toxies go to . . .
- CIT in Evreux, France
- LAB Research in Denmark
- Covance in Muenster Germany
- The aforementioned Charles River in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Covance in Harrogate, UK
- LAB Research in Hungary
- Accelera in Nerviano, Italy
The "New Preclinical CRO Site That I Haven't Visited Yet" Award
The self-explanatory Toxy goes to Covance in Chandler, AZ.
That completes the first edition of the "Toxy" awards. I made an attempt to acknowledge as many preclinical CROs as possible, but whenever you do any kind of recognition like this, someone always gets left out. Sorry about that. I do suggest that you check out the Contract Pharma Contract Services Directory and the Society of Toxicology website. Both sites have links to resources and annual meetings where you can find an extensive list of suppliers and service providers. Having access to these resources can only help you to make more informed purchasing and outsourcing decisions. For the preclinical CROs that I did mention, I'm sure some may feel that I could have portrayed them differently. The thing about the Toxies is, there is no nomination process and no balloting. It's a panel of one! Still, it speaks volumes that there's such variety among preclinical CROs that we could have all these categories!
