CenterWatch Study Rates CROs

CenterWatch has conducted a study of more than 2,000 global investigative sites rating the best CROs to work for. Investigative sites gave the highest ratings to their clinical trial relationships with INC Research, PPD and inVentiv Health Clinical. These CROs received top average ratings across 36 relationship attributes evaluated in CenterWatch’s bi-annual 2013 Global Investigative Site Relationship survey. In the fourth spot was Covance, followed by Quintiles, PRA, PAREXEL and ICON. The survey also asked sites to evaluate CROs on overall reputation; the top ranking went to PPD, followed by Covance, Quintiles, ICON and INC Research.
 
According to the results, overall CRO effectiveness in managing relationships with sites has declined slightly during the past two years, and the average CRO rating has fallen below performance expectations in several areas, including protocol/study design planning and project support.
 
“Sites want to voice their opinions and share insights with sponsors and CROs on areas in which progress has been made, along with areas that may need improvement,” said Joan Chambers, chief operating officer of CenterWatch. “Sponsors and CROs take this feedback very seriously given its importance to successful global clinical trial performance. These insights provide sponsors and CROs the opportunity to work with their internal teams to strengthen and enhance their site relationships.”