| 198 CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS RANK COVANCE AS "BEST" PERFORMING CRO IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SURVEY |
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Princeton, NJ, February 11, 1997 — A survey of 198 clinical research centers ranking the best performing contract Clinical Research Organizations (CROs), rated Covance Inc, formerly Corning Besselaar, as the best overall performing CRO in the industry.
The study conducted by CenterWatch and published in its February issue, evaluated CRO performance in 23 categories. These categories included project management, personnel workstyle, and study-specific activities. Covance's top overall ranking reflected the consistent quality of the company's performance across all categories surveyed.
In specific categories, Covance was identified as the leading CRO for setting realistic timelines, having well-trained and competent staff, being organized and prepared, and providing support for patient recruitment.
Thomas Littlejohn, III, M.D., Piedmont Medical Research Associates, headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, supports the findings of the CenterWatch survey. "Interacting with experienced, proficient clinical monitors is critical. Covance's CRAs and clinical research teams have consistently provided us with the professional support we depend upon during the clinical research process."
"Companies that received a high overall 'best' rating were those that demonstrated a consistency of performance and better relationship quality," said Ken Getz, publisher of CenterWatch. "This research offers insight to all CROs because it identifies areas in the CRO site relationship where improvements are most necessary."
Covance Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Clinical and Periapproval Services, Dr. Harris Koffer, attributes Covance's top ranking to four key factors: the quality and professionalism of its staff, the years of experience of its clinical research teams, the importance and value of communications with the sponsor as well as the research site, and a focus on investigators as important customers. "Our success in the CenterWatch survey is a direct reflection of the experience and capability of our professional staff, and our corporate focus on service. We treat out investigators as valued customers."
"One of the biggest frustrations for many research sites is their interaction with inexperienced study monitors or CRAs," says Dr. Koffer. "At Covance, CRAs are cross-trained in clinical, regulatory and data management aspects of clinical trials, allowing them to spot potential errors, ensure data quality, and speed the development process."
Dr. Kim D. Lamon, Covance Senior Vice President and Group President, Clinical and Periapproval Services, agrees adding, "Covance is committed to being the most reliable development services provider for our clients and investigators. We are obviously pleased with the results of the CenterWatch survey and view the consistency of our ratings as a very positive sign that we are succeeding in our mission."
Covance, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, has been forged on the collective expertise of several of the world's leading drug development services companies (formerly known as: Corning Hazelton, Corning HTA, Corning SciCor, Corning Bio, Corning National Packaging, Corning Besselaar, Corning PACT, HRP, and CRS Pacamed). Covance is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical development service companies, with 1996 revenues of approximately $495 million, operations in more than 16 countries, and more than 5,000 employees worldwide.
Covance combines superior development experience, expertise and global presence to provide preclinical, health economics, central laboratory, biomanufacturing, clinical packaging, and clinical and periapproval services to the world's pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies. |
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