Our Mission

Six Unique Advantages of the VetPharm Study Management Model

What makes us a breed apart.

VetPharm’s competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive approach to clinical trial support – an approach unique in veterinary research. Key elements of this approach were adapted from procedures proven in human clinical testing at a major university medical center. Factors that differentiate VetPharm from our competition include:
  1. Exclusive Dedication to the Veterinary Industry
    VetPharm is the leading organization of its kind dedicated solely to the animal health industry. We do no testing of human products, nor do we engage in any other research activities. VetPharm’s entire organization is structured to serve the special requirements of animal health studies and to remain clearly focused on our sponsor’s critical timelines.
  2. Skilled, Experienced Investigators
    VetPharm features an exclusive consortium of more than 1,000 private-practice and university-affiliated veterinarians with significant clinical testing experience. Included among our affiliates are board-certified specialists in all major disciplines. We pre-qualify each of our investigators through rigorous evaluation of their training, clinical trials experience, areas of specialty and/or interest, staff availability, facilities and equipment, and quality attitude. VetPharm’s consortium assures study sponsors a ready and consistent supply of highly-qualified and experienced veterinarians. One call to VetPharm solves all recruiting problems.
  3. Patient Database Speeds Study Initiation
    VetPharm maintains a proprietary patient information database of more than seven million cases. This database supports 72-hour response to sponsor inquiries regarding study enrollment potential, as well as rapid study initiation and accelerated subject recruitment.
  4. Field Monitors Support Every Investigator
    VetPharm assigns a specially-trained field monitor to each study investigator. This liaison minimizes a study’s impact on the investigator’s regular practice activities. It also enhances site performance, improves protocol compliance, and assures complete and accurate data.
  5. Master Contract Format
    VetPharm provides its services under a single master contract. This format relieves study sponsors of virtually all administrative burdens, simplifies all study communications, and centralizes accountability at VetPharm.
  6. Complete Downstream Services
    VetPharm offers a full menu of downstream services including protocol and data form design, data management, biostatistical analysis , medical report writing, and regulatory support (FDA/CVM).

The True Burden of In-House Study Management

The purpose of a clinical trial is to gather the vast amount of data necessary to secure FDA approval of a new product. Success in obtaining regulatory approval depends on the quality of that data. Low quality, conflicting, or missing data delays agency review of new product applications. Delays in collecting the data, as well as time spent “cleaning” data and answering FDA review queries, can negatively impact the launch schedule of the new product and, consequently, reduce its ultimate revenue potential.

Historically, many pharmaceutical companies conducted their clinical trials in-house, using individual private-practice or university-affiliated veterinarians as investigators. Companies recruited those veterinarians in a variety of ways, including generic broadcast fax solicitations. At first glance, this arrangement would appear to be faster and less costly for a study sponsor. However, it almost always takes longer, costs more, and results in lower quality data.

First, not all veterinarians make good study investigators. Some lack adequate support staff. Others have substandard facilities and outdated equipment. Still others are too busy to give protocols the detailed attention they require. VetPharm prequalifies every veterinarian in its consortium, verifies their credentials, confirms their interest in each study, and closely monitors their performance from start to finish.

Second, the administrative burden of recruiting, contracting, training, monitoring, and paying multiple study sites is substantial. A sponsor must dedicate scarce staff and capital resources to these activities, diverting them from the development of new revenue-generating products. Outsourcing to VetPharm under our master contract format relieves sponsors of virtually all administrative responsibilities, allowing them to multiply the productivity of their existing resources instead of depleting it.

Third, collecting data takes time. Research shows that 90% of all clinical trials experience significant delays. Delays postpone regulatory approval and product launch. They also could allow competitors to beat you to market with similar products. Either way, you lose. VetPharm’s proven study management system improves data quality and dramatically shortens study timelines. By outsourcing to VetPharm, a sponsor can minimize the time it takes to introduce new products and maximize their return on research and development investments.