As pressure to get drugs to the human clinical trial stage increases more companies are looking to outsource not only non-core functions but major areas of R&D. Here, Praveen C. Surana, senior director of Business Development, ELC Group, examines outsourcing projects in more detail.
With increasing pressure to take potential drugs from discovery to human clinical trials as quickly as possible, many companies are moving towards outsourcing at least a portion of their drug development. Previously, major pharmaceutical companies outsourced mainly non-core functions. Now, more companies are outsourcing major areas of research and development activities, including formulation development — ranging from early formulation development for animal studies to optimisation for Phase I, II and III under cGMP compliance, to clinical or commercial supplies.