RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 30, 2008 -- Conducting clinical trials in India is an average of 44% less expensive than conducting US-based trials, according survey data. A new study by pharmaceutical business intelligence leader Cutting Edge Information, "Streamlining Clinical Trials," finds that the average clinical trial costs pharmaceutical companies $125 million in the US compared to $70 million in India, on average.

The report explores other reasons that companies outsource clinical trials as well -- cost savings is only one of many factors that help determine trial location. Other challenges in the US, such as patient recruitment and retention, have spurred companies to look for solutions outside of the US. In addition to India, other countries including Russia, China, and Brazil are all prime locations for clinical trials, in part due to improved trial conditions in those countries.

David Richardson, project leader of the study said, "While cost levels of developing new drugs continue to rise in most geographic areas, companies are conducting clinical trials in India in order to conserve resources."

A complimentary brochure is available for download at http://cuttingedgeinfo.com/clinicaltrialbenchmarking/index.htm#body.

The report covers resource allocation, performance measurement, continuous process improvement, patient and investigator recruitment and adaptive trial designs. Data include clinical development budgets, clinical operations team structures and staffing levels, performance measurement and management, clinical operations hurdles and process improvement tools and tactics. CEI also draws comparisons to its studies in 2006 and 2004 to show clinical development trends.

The report consists of 500+ metrics and detailed case studies to assist clinical development executives and clinical operations team members in accelerating trials. It focuses on three aspects:

 
--  Patient Recruitment: Patient recruitment continues to dominate
    clinical timelines and budgets.  The report devotes an entire chapter to
    this challenge, providing the latest trends and tools in recruitment.
--  Budgeting and Performance Assessments: Clinical project managers must
    set clear performance expectations and measure and manage trials.  The
    report provides clinical spending benchmarks to assist in trial budgeting
    and planning.
--  Clinical Operations Structure and Work Flow: Clinical trial management
    team members must know their roles and responsibilities, and communication
    with vendors and investigators must be seamless. The report outlines major
    obstacles clinical teams face and presents real-company, proven solutions.

     CONTACT INFORMATION:
      
     David Richardson
     Email Contact
     919-433-0216