PAREXEL reaches milestone in early phase studies

PAREXEL International Corporation (Nasdaq: PRXL), a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, today announced that it reached a milestone of completing 200 early phase studies in patient populations during the past three years.  The studies, which were conducted in-house by its early phase units worldwide, enrolled more than 3,000 patients.  Early phase studies conducted in targeted patient populations are designed to demonstrate early signals of safety and efficacy in investigational medicines.

"To avoid costly late stage development failures, the biopharmaceutical industry has placed increased emphasis on conducting more complex, sophisticated, and rigorous early phase research, including earlier patient studies, to better predict safety and efficacy as well as identify and select the most promising new compounds.  To assist clients in achieving these goals, PAREXEL provides access to numerous patient populations for early phase studies, including Proof-of-Concept studies," said Sy Pretorius, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., Corporate Vice President and Worldwide Head of Early Phase, PAREXEL.  "Reaching the milestone of successfully completing the 200th early phase patient study performed in-house by our units over the last three years demonstrates our leading ability to help biopharmaceutical companies generate better and faster go/no-go decisions about their compounds."

Over several years, PAREXEL's early phase experts have developed extensive global databases of patients for inclusion in Phase I patient and Proof-of-Concept studies.  The databases, which include more than 70 diverse patient populations, are complemented by the capabilities of dedicated call centers, recruitment specialists, and access to local healthcare professionals through PAREXEL's hospital-based units.  PAREXEL's early phase units are strategically located to facilitate rapid patient recruitment.  

As biopharmaceutical companies strive to manage development costs, gather dose range data sooner, accelerate development timelines, and obtain earlier efficacy signals, PAREXEL helps meet these multiple goals in early stage development.  PAREXEL's early phase services provide fully integrated solutions from First in Man through Proof-of-Concept and help biopharmaceutical companies seeking to return solid, reproducible outcomes to succeed in later-phase trials.

PAREXEL's early phase units are located across three continents, including in Baltimore and Los Angeles in the United States; London, United Kingdom; Berlin, Germany; and Bloemfontein, George, and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. PAREXEL's early phase capabilities include a full scope of early phase studies, specialized trial design, state-of-the-art technologies, hospital-based resources, and scientific expertise as well as vast experience in the oncology, neurology, cardiology, respiratory, and metabolism/endocrine therapeutic areas.