Synexus Increases Osteoporosis Clinical Trial Capacity

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 09 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Synexus has significantly increased its capacity to recruit and run global osteoporosis trials by increasing the number of DEXA scanners at its hub sites by a third. According to the American College of Radiology the DEXA scan is the most reliable way of identifying osteoporosis and is the best test for measuring bone mineral density [ [1]].

Osteoporosis affects one in three women - over 50 - and one in five men around the world; increasing to one in two and one in three in the over 60s [ [2]]. It is estimated that the worldwide cost of osteoporosis will increase to USD 131.5billion by 2050 [ [3]].

Synexus has complemented its DEXA investment with the provision of heel scanners to hundreds of primary care practices to boost enrolment.

Dr Ian Smith Medical Director and founder commented; "The heel scan is a quick, easy and cost effective way of determining whether there is a likelihood of osteoporosis. All the patients who have an elevated reading are then offered a DEXA scan at one of our hub sites in order to make a definitive diagnosis."

Synexus has recently carried out tens of thousands of heel tests and followed up with thousands of DEXA scans to recruit patients onto osteoporosis studies.

Michael Fort CEO of Synexus said "We have dramatically increased our capacity in the area of osteoporosis due to demand from our clients. With our network of fourteen clinics in the UK, Eastern Europe, South Africa and India we are able to randomise thousands of patients."

References

[1]. American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria for osteoporosis and bone mineral density. 2001.
[2]. Osteoporosis Australia http://www.osteoporosis.org.au 2004
[3]. Lindsay R et al., 2001, JAMA 285:320

Synexus(R) background

Synexus(R) headquartered in Manchester, England, is the world's largest multi-national company dedicated to the recruitment and running of late stage clinical trials.

Synexus(R)recruits participants for clinical trials on behalf of pharmaceutical, biotech and CROs. The clinical trials are then run and managed by Synexus�' at 14 hub sites across the UK, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, India and South Africa.

Synexus(R) pioneered the running of clinical trials at hub sites as against the traditional method of contracting with primary care physicians, who on average only recruit and manage five patients each.

http://www.synexus.com