STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING
Q.
to share best practices with our clients. However, for more than 20 years. Fisher has been focused
We read much about the escalating costs
many clients have not built this type of collaborative on clinical supply chain fulf_i lment for clinical trials
of drug development. What approaches has
approach to their clinical supplies needs into their for its entire existence. We have been able to
Fisher taken to address this? Do you see timelines. I would imagine that most vendors share best practices that we establish at each
timelines expanding and, if so, can you offer any supporting clinical development would say the of our different sites and use that to make our
suggestions to help address this?
same thing – that clients fail to ask us for what we service stronger and more innovative.
would do, or for our recommendation, and instead I believe that when a customer comes to us
Fisher has always invested in state-of-the-art
simply ask us to complete a quote sheet. they can feel a level of conf_i dence about quality;
packaging equipment and processes to be able
that they can feel that Fisher is a partner that
to offer its customers solutions. Fisher’s goal is to
Q.
can share its experiences with them. We are
Tell us about your company’s business
deliver quality, and to our customers’ timelines.
dedicated to their success and do not see our
model.
Factors that really drive up the cost of drug
work as a one-off job assignment, but as part of
development are missed timelines and quality failing
an overall process.
Fisher Clinical Services has grown via a two-
to meet expectations. We have also invested in
In support of these things is our capacity,
prong strategy; f_i rst organically, along with our
complementary services, such as labelling, analytical
which has to be one of the most extensive in the
customers and the outsourcing market in general,
testing, high-touch logistics providers; anything
world, and our geographical reach. Not only do
but also through acquisition. We have approached
that will allow us to take more ownership for the
we have facilities around the world, we also have
acquisition carefully and looked for ways to
fundamental goal of clinical supplies – getting the
very tenured individuals who are seasoned in
strengthen our service offering through the
product to the site on time, as needed.
the successful execution of clinical programmes.
addition of unique services and broadening our
I would suggest that sponsors share their
Shipping an investigational drug is not like shipping
service portfolio.
goals with clinical supplies teams. When we
other materials. It requires special handling, special
We also look for management teams that are
know what challenges sponsors anticipate, or the
conditions and most of all, unique understanding
solid and like-minded to enable a more effective
milestones that are a must for a company, we
of clinical development.
integration into our business culture. We believe
build our solution to try to take those points into
that our customers are seeking assurance – wanting
consideration and often we can offer options.
to partner with service providers that take on
Q. What are Fisher’s long-term plans?
When we are only provided with basic information
greater responsibility for the continuum of the drug
under tight time constraints, our ability to offer
supply chain. In our world, this means everything
We will continue to expand to meet the needs
value is greatly reduced.
from the initial packaging design and execution,
of clients and to support our reputation for
through to labelling and drug distribution, to
innovation. To do this, we need to remain at
Q. What do you see as the most common assurance that the investigational drug was correctly
the cutting edge of technology, to learn from
mistake sponsors make when developing a plan
delivered to the site.
technical solutions used by other industries, to
for clinical supplies? What advice would you
Over the past few years we have acquired
continue to expand geographically and to ensure
state-of-the-art labelling providers, as well as
that the professionals we hire and the facilities
offer to them?
high-touch logistics services businesses, all with the
we support are of the highest standard. Our
aim of assisting our customers in completing this
goal is not only to be in a position to service our
My experience tells me that many clinical teams
mission-critical portion of drug development,
clients well, but to be seen as one of their most
do not see the different functions as part of an
with high quality and assurance that it is done to
successful partnerships. Our long-term plans
overall solution. I am not exactly sure why this is so,
their timelines.
will be to invest resources in managing those
but they tend to outsource and to decide on the
partnerships and to supply our partners with
different parts of a clinical programme as individual
parts, and this includes clinical supplies. I know that
Q.
data and services to allow them to focus on their
Fisher provides a wide range of services
key milestones.
we are most valuable when we are brought in to its customers; does this strategy work well?
earlier to the process. When the clinical teams share
country selection and their concerns about the
As referenced above, we have grown in line with
Q. Do you intend to expand
patient or investigator population with us, we can
what we have observed as the changing needs of
geographically or make more acquisitions?
then share our extensive knowledge of the on-the-
our clients and added or acquired services intended
ground logistics and investigator population.
to offer our customers greater assurance of quality
I believe we will continue to expand
We have a tremendous amount of regulatory
and delivery. This has worked well and has allowed
geographically in line with the global expansion
knowledge and our teams probably touch more
us to develop eff_i ciencies and to be in a position
of clinical trials overall. We have always invested
clinical trials than any sponsor out there. We can
to assume greater responsibility for our clients, as
early in regions that show promise. It is one
provide a signif_i cant amount of insight. We can
they are sometimes beginning to ask us to take on
advantage of working with so many different
advise on packaging designs or plans that will work
full responsibility for their clinical supplies services.
sponsors; we get an early view into the next
to assist with patient challenges or compliance
In some cases, our services can be customised
trend. I can assure you that we will continue to
concerns. These are easily solved when addressed
to meet the needs of individual customers – we
expand to keep pace with our clients’ needs.
early on in the process. It is much more diff_i cult to
often use our engineering expertise to customise
Acquisitions are always on the horizon at
help when this is decided after many elements of
manufacturing solutions or packaging solutions
Fisher. We have demonstrated throughout our
the programme have already been set in stone or
suited to an individual trial. In other cases, we are
history a willingness to strategically invest if an
the dates and milestones are fast approaching.
able to dedicate a portion of our capacity to clients
acquisition could deliver enhanced value to
looking to completely outsource their operations.
our clients. We are in the fortunate position of
Q.
having a parent company, ThermoFisher, which
What is not being considered in
outsourcing today? Q.
has been very supportive of our acquisition and
What benefits do customers get from
expansion strategy.
working with Fisher?
Sometimes I think the mistake our customers make
is not realising how much experience we gain in The greatest benef_i t as a whole that we deliver
working across multiple programmes with multiple to customers is our expertise, gained from our
Caroline Richards is a reporter for Scrip..
types of clients. This exposure allows us to learn and unique focus on this portion of drug development
www.scripnews.com/supplements Scrip 100
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