SOURCE: Cutting Edge Information

 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwire - August 20, 2008) - According to the recently published report, "Investigator-Initiated Trials: Building Superior IIT Capabilities," developed by pharmaceutical market research leader Cutting Edge Information, IIT management remains a difficult task for pharma companies (www.investigatorinitiatedtrials.com). Virtually every surveyed company reported that it could improve its IIT management.

With investigator-initiated trials comprising half of all clinical studies, companies must learn to effectively manage them. Insufficient management often results in unfavorable outcomes, including findings that conflict with company-sponsored data, inadequate treatment of adverse findings and stiff competition between investigators and companies recruiting patients. IIT results have even been known to be published before the brand team knows anything about them.

Effective management, however, improves brand recognition and generates positive data that other company departments can utilize in future brand marketing.

Organizational buy-in is the most significant contributor to effective IIT management. This support provides several benefits, including increased leverage within the company and the availability of more resources. As internal knowledge grows, the strategic value of IIT management will be demonstrated as other departments learn how successful IIT management will enable them to better fulfill their own responsibilities, creating a win-win situation for everyone.

"There is a lot of room for improvement in this area," says Eric Bolesh, the project's lead author. "IIT management is still an evolving science, and many companies have realized that they need a new approach."

To offer a comprehensive look at the current state of IIT management, "Investigator-Initiated Trials: Building Superior IIT Capabilities" provides data benchmarks that will enable companies to improve their IIT initiatives. Findings center on the following topics:

--  Companies' assessments of IIT performance and areas of improvement
--  Study proposal review and evaluation timelines
--  Budgets and funding
--  IIT program profiles
    

Surveyed respondents reveal difficulties in selecting viable study opportunities, tracking studies, overseeing clinical trial management and making use of study findings. Beyond identifying these obstacles, however, companies provide creative solutions. Based on data and these insights, the report authors recommend strategies to optimize IIT performance.

Download a free summary of "Investigator-initiated Trials: Building Superior IIT Capabilities" or purchase the report at: http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/investigatorinitiatedtrials/PH114_Download.asp#body.

For questions about the report, please contact Eric Bolesh at eric_bolesh@cuttingedgeinfo.com or 919-433-0209.