In the field of oncology, clinical research plays a central role in the development of new and effective therapies for cancer patients.
However, conducting oncology clinical trials can be complex and demanding —particularly when many clinical sites and countries are involved— requiring specialized expertise, systems, and resources.
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This is where oncology-focused clinical research organizations (CROs) step in, providing comprehensive services to support biotech and pharma companies in their mission to bring innovative oncology therapies to market.
In this article, we will explore the capabilities of niche oncology CROs and how they contribute to accelerating cancer research for biopharmaceutical companies.
Understanding the Role of Niche Oncology CROs
Niche oncology CROs are typically small-sized companies specialized in providing a wide range of clinical trial management services exclusively tailored to the needs of biotech and pharma companies developing drugs in the field of cancer.
These CROs have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and intricacies involved in oncology clinical research, which allows them to offer targeted solutions and support to their clients.
Support for Emerging Biotech Companies
One of the key differentiators of niche oncology CROs is their exclusive focus on supporting small emerging biotech companies.
By dedicating their resources and expertise to biotech startups, these CROs quickly adapt to the evolving needs of their clients and provide solutions that are essential for successful oncology drug development.
Cancer-focused CROs are well-prepared to navigate the ever-changing landscape of oncology clinical research and can satisfy the particular needs of small biotech customers.
Experienced Oncology Experts
The success of any clinical trial heavily relies on the experience of the study-specific team.
Oncology CROs understand the importance of having an expert team across all functions, which is why they prioritize recruiting professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of oncology.
By using senior clinical research associates (CRAs) and clinical project managers, with several years of experience in oncology studies, these CROs can ensure solid management and streamlined trial execution.
Their expertise includes clinical site identification and selection, skilled management of safety and toxicity reporting, oversight of complex study designs and novel endpoints, and an understanding of the nuances of targeted therapy and immuno-oncology trials.
The Advantages of Utilizing Oncology CRO Services
Biotech and pharma companies partnering with oncology CROs can benefit from a broad spectrum of advantages that contribute to more efficient and successful clinical trials.
These advantages include the following, among others:
- Service Flexibility
Due to their complexity and technical demands, oncology studies often require service agility and customization.
Unlike large multinational vendors, smaller niche oncology CROs have lighter structures and less bureaucratic procedures, which augment their flexibility and speed to respond to client requirements.
They offer highly adaptable solutions, such as the possibility to dedicate a specific expert to a certain task or engage in a full-service contract to do most of the trial management work, in order to meet the concrete needs of emerging biotechnology companies.
- The Latest Software Tools
To stay at the forefront of innovation and efficiency, oncology CROs offer cutting-edge web-based technologies and training.
They leverage state-of-the-art software tools streamlining data management and study management processes, including highly specialized applications (e.g., radiology imaging platforms).
By adopting advanced systems and web-based applications, oncology CROs can speed up clinical data collection and analysis, avoiding inefficient manual efforts.
- Solid High-Quality Data
High-quality data is essential for the success of any clinical trial.
Oncology CROs recognize this and employ powerful Electronic Data Capture (EDC) software solutions to ensure the integrity and reliability of the data collected.
These CROs count on experienced biometrics teams —including seasoned clinical data managers and statistical programmers— that can provide sponsors with confidence in the quality of the data being analyzed.
Additionally, they leverage standardized clinical data form libraries and expedite the definition and implementation of electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs), reducing the time required for study setup.
Immuno-Oncology Advancements and Targeted Therapies
To illustrate the added value of working with oncology CROs on the development of novel anticancer therapies, we can consider the field of immuno-oncology.
Immuno-oncology has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment, harnessing the power of the immune system to target and combat cancer cells.
Oncology CROs have played a vital role in advancing this field by managing early and late-phase studies of checkpoint inhibitors and other immuno-oncology agents in different tumor types.
In recent years, breakthrough therapies in immuno-oncology have been identified earlier in the development process, and several compounds have been approved and commercialized with outstanding clinical outcomes.
Oncology CROs have been instrumental in this space by collaborating with central laboratories specializing in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and advanced technology vendors that focus on analyzing genetic information.
Furthermore, oncology CROs have built strong relationships with expert clinical and translational investigators in the field of immuno-oncology.
These collaborations facilitate adequate selection of patients with specific tumor types and particular biological characteristics, which enables the testing of new targeted therapies.
The Global Reach of Oncology CROs
Although they may not be gigantic multinational corporations, there are oncology CROs operating on a global scale in strategic territories, with the ability to conduct clinical trials in various regions across the world (e.g., North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific).
This global reach is essential for biotech companies seeking to expand their research activities and access diverse patient populations in multinational phase 3 clinical trials.
Some small-sized oncology CROs have established collaborative relationships with cancer centers in different continents, allowing sponsors to tap into a wide range of oncological indications, ethnic groups, and clinical sites with high-volume patient recruitment potential.
In addition, oncology CROs maintain close cooperations with expert medical oncologists and associated multidisciplinary cancer care teams at both national and international levels.
These strategic connections with key opinion leaders (KOLs) ensure that clinical studies are conducted by experienced professionals who are well-versed in the specific tumor histologies and investigational agents being studied.
These partnerships not only enhance the quality of the data collected but also contribute to the right protocol design and overall success of the clinical trial.
Conclusion
Niche oncology CROs play a valuable role in supporting biotech and pharma companies in their mission to develop innovative oncology therapies.
With their special dedication to emerging biotech companies, seasoned trial management teams, vast cancer experience, adaptable solutions, and the latest data management technologies, these CROs can ensure the success of clinical trials and accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics.
Through their global reach and already established international expert networks, oncology CROs serve as valuable partners to run phase 3 clinical trials faster, accelerating the commercialization of innovative anticancer compounds.
