Live from Central Labs: Day 3

Central Labs Partnering event closed today which a motivational keynote from Lou Ferrigno. Pharmaceutical executives listened as Mr. Ferrigno explain how becoming fearless and taking strategic risk in this economy will lead to true success and breed innovation. In the afternoon, Wendy R. Sanhai, PhD, Senior Scientific Advisor, Office of the Commissioner, FDA; Samir Khleif, Head, Cancer Vaccine Section Investigator, NIH; William Wheeler, MD, FAAC, Global Medical Director, Centralized Cardiac Services, MDS PHARMA SERVICE; and Patrice Hugo, Vice-President of Scientific Affairs, MDS PHARMA SERVICES provided innovated strategies for working together to develop biomarkers for safety monitoring and surrogate endpoints.

IIR would like to thank all of those who attended and invite you to comment here on the event. We are looking for ideas on where to hold next year’s meeting and welcome your feedback here.

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Live from Central Labs: Day 2

Today, was the second day of IIR’s Annual Partnering with Central Labs event. Kenneth Kaitlin, PhD, Director and Professor of Medicine, TUFTS CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF DRUG DEVELOPMENT, kicked off the meeting with a dynamic and engaging talk that discussed the current environment for pharmaceutical innovation, Tufts CSDD’s Annual Report on Trends in Drug Development, and new R&D strategies. The audience then heard J. Rick Turner, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer, TURNER MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS, discuss Drug Safety Evaluation with a focus on benefit-risk assessments throughout development and therapy

which was followed by the grand opening of the Labs networking hall. The hall houses over close to 50 companies representing the nation’s leading central labs, imaging and ECG labs, in addition to numerous CROs and ancillary service providers.

This afternoon, participants broke into three tracks on Central lab Relationship Development, Standardization in Imaging Studies, and Improving & Standardizing ECG and Cardiac Safety Studies in which multiple panel sessions allowed for open discussions and debate. Participants were engaged, asking lots of questions to get the answers to their most pressing challenges in managing outsourcing lab partnerships.

The day closed with a reception hosted by the conference sponsor Esoterix. The Central Labs participants attended and visited with their outsourcing partners and looked for new services with some of the event new exhibitors including MNX Global LifeScience Logistics and diaDexus.

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Live from Central Labs: Day 1

IIR’s 7th Annual Central Labs Partnering with Central Labs, ECG, & Imaging Labs opened today at the Red Rock Resort and Spa in a Las Vegas, NV. In the wake of the news that will likely be the biggest deal of 2010, Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, experts convened to discuss and share best practices partnering strategic Small Pharmaceutical Companies and uncover the latest strategies in biomarkers, personalized medicine, diagnostics and assay development.

Over 250 outsourcing executives from large and small biopharmaceutical companies including Amgen, Pfizer, Novartis and Celgene convened with the world’s largest central labs including Icon, Covance, and MDS Pharma Services.

Monday’s attendees heard about innovative ways to better manage outsourcing partnerships and improve and streamline clinical trials operations. In addition, they received a deeper understanding of the how new developments in biomarkers, personalized medicine, diagnostics and assay development will change the face of drug development in the immediate future.

The day closed with a wonderful reception hosted by Huntingdon Life Sciences. Dr. Douglas King, Director of Business Development for DCL Medical Laboratories said to one of the conference organizers “This is such a great event. You can look around the room and see deals being made!” Despite concerns about the economy and continued mergers the buzz was great as participants recognize that as large pharma continues to downsize their workforces outsourcing will continue to be a go to strategy for the long haul. Finally, after the close of the reception attendees left for the evening to meet one on one with their partners and take advantage of the beautiful casino at the Red Rock.

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