Article 169 - A Quiet Transformation for Private CROs

• Contrary to analyst predictions, small and mid-sized private CROs are finding sponsors increasingly receptive to working with them.
• Private CRO success is tied to providing focused therapeutic expertise, niche services and highly personalized service to sponsors.

Article 170 - Latin American Fever

• A changing clinical trials market in Latin American may offer a unique opportunity to reach much larger numbers of study subjects.
• Though historically it has been a sub-optimal place to conduct clinical research, a changing regulatory environment, a large consumer base, more positive local government perceptions and better-trained study staff make Latin America an attractive new market for clinical trials.

Article 171 - CentreStage Europe: French SMO ProTest Files for Bankruptcy

• Just two years after its inception, the French SMO ProTest has been forced to liquidate due to an inability to raise enough venture capital. The demise of ProTest begs the question: Is the European market ready for SMOs? Experts see the situation as both a warning and a learning experience.

Article 172 - Eye on Hepatitis

• CenterWatch has identified a total of 47 treatments and vaccines in the hepatitis pipeline - representing a total of approximately $150 million to $200 million being spent on clinical development. Although there are no treatments of proven benefit for acute viral hepatitis, all five forms of the virus can cause an acute illness, and all five have virulence and induce pathology primarily on the infected liver. Research on treatments for Hepatitis B and C, the most common forms of viral hepatitis, is promising.