In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has been increasingly relying on clinical research organizations (CROs) for their specialized expertise in trial execution and management. Specifically, the field of dermatology has witnessed significant advancements in skin diseases, such as acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and more, largely with the efforts of various CROs. In 2022, the global dermatology CRO market was valued at over US$4 billion and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% between 2023 and 2030. In particular, as the demand for more innovative treatment options in acne research grows, several CROs that specialize in dermatology trials have emerged as leaders in this therapeutic indication. In this article, we will list the top 10 CROs that have demonstrated continued dedication to understanding and combating acne, in no particular order. Read on to find out why these CROs are the most well-equipped to work towards improving the lives of those affected by acne worldwide! 

A Closer Look at Acne

Acne vulgaris, also commonly known as acne, is a highly prevalent dermatological condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Although not fatal, acne typically leaves long-lasting physical marks in the form of scarring and irritation. Given the visible markings it leaves, acne is well-known for leading to significant psychological effects, including depression. This combined with the widespread nature of the disease, there is a need for more acne research within dermatology trials. As a result, sponsors and CROs worldwide are conducting dermatology research with the goal of understanding acne in more detail, including its causes, progression, and its impact on patients. The work of these top CROs is continuously helping drive acne research forward, promoting breakthroughs in improving treatment strategies, as well as patient quality of life. 

1. Medpace Dermatology CRO

Medpace is an industry leader in acne research due to its comprehensive understanding of such dermatological conditions. As a widely prevalent skin condition, acne poses significant challenges for patients, including chronic pain, itching, scarring, and often stigmatization. Medpace recognizes the necessity for more effective and safer treatments for such conditions and is dedicated to developing solutions for patients suffering from acne.

Over more than 30 years, this CRO has established a proven track record of proactively anticipating challenges that may arise during dermatology trials and creatively approaching study design and patient recruitment. Their ability to execute successful trials in acne research is a result of having a firm grasp of the clinical course of therapeutic indications and the unique challenges involved in the evaluation of specific skin diseases. With a large team composed of physicians, imaging specialists, and operational and regulatory experts, Medpace consistently maintains high-quality acne clinical trials. 

2. Quanticate Dermatology CRO

Unique among the other organizations we’ve listed, Quanticate is a biometric CRO, possessing specialized expertise in data management, statistical analysis, and advanced statistical techniques. This is especially valuable in skin diseases like acne, where the assessment of clinical outcomes within dermatology trials often relies heavily on detailed image analyses and precise measurement of changes over time. Quanticate has access to cutting-edge statistical software, visualization analytical tools, and unified platforms, which are crucial for accurately interpreting complex data generated by these studies. This CRO is especially known for its expertise in adeptly handling complex data such as detailed skin assessments, photographic data, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Furthermore, Quanticate is at the forefront of incorporating innovative methodologies in dermatology research, such as adaptive trial designs, predictive modeling, and real-world data analysis. More importantly, as a niche specialist CRO, acne research sponsors can expect more direct and frequent communication, fostering a collaborative partnership.  

3. TFS HealthScience’s Dermatology CRO 

TFS HealthScience is another top CRO to consider for acne research and dermatology trials. The company’s reputation for excellence is grounded in its unwavering commitment to clinical research, spanning over 25+ years, and its proven experience in managing numerous dermatological studies. The Dermatology, Immunology, and Inflammatory Disease (DIID) team at TFS are experts in managing clinical development Phases I-IV and RWE. They especially excel in patient recruitment across several indications, including acne. They boast an impressive track that includes the successful delivery of nearly 250 studies in more than 20 countries, as well as a significant global network of more than 6,000+ clinical research sites and over 60,000 patients.

The company has earned a solid reputation for employing dermatologically experienced resources and consistently delivering high-quality clinical development services. When partnering with TFS, dermatology research sponsors can take advantage of the valuable support network this CRO provides across various aspects of the trial process. Overall, TFS’s Dermatology CRO consistently demonstrates extensive expertise, adaptability, and a human-centric approach, making them an invaluable acne research partner in the field.  

4. Premier Research Dermatology CRO 

Premier Research is among the leading CROs in dermatology trials, particularly in the realm of acne research. The Dermatology CRO at Premier has executed over 110 dermatology studies and worked with more than 13,200 patients across hundreds of sites in the past five years. Their commitment to acne research is particularly notable, with 12% of all Premier Research dermatology trials being dedicated to acne and rosacea, ranking third after cosmetic/aesthetic and psoriasis trials. This CRO has consistently demonstrated the ability to accelerate trial timelines by up to 25 percent through rapid start-up and recruitment, which ensures the successful delivery of timely, impactful results. Beyond conducting clinical trials, the dermatology team at Premier provides guidance and support at each stage of the process, from rapid study start-up to project management and fast-track application expertise.  

5. ethica Dermatology CRO

Offering a dedicated Dermatology CRO, ethica’s expertise lies in their understanding of dermatology as a complex and unique therapeutic area for research, including diseases such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. One of the most common challenges of conducting dermatology research is the subjective nature of many endpoints, considering the transient nature of many skin diseases. However, ethica has proven itself to be adept at handling the robust validation required for standardized qualitative and subjective assessment scales, a crucial aspect required for acne research trials. In addition to their expertise in traditional dermatology research, this CRO also employs novel assessment tools and specialized services, such as photography or dermatopathology. Most importantly, the company is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of research participants, as well as maintaining the integrity of data in dermatology trials.

6. Lindus Health Dermatology CRO

Lindus Health CRO was founded based on its innovative approach to accelerating and streamlining dermatology trials at every stage of development. They offer a convenient package including the full spectrum of CRO services, site operations, and technology necessary to operate an acne research study from building the protocol to delivering the data. Lindus’s record of success in dermatology research highlights their speed, with a completion time two times faster than the industry standard. However, this speed does not compromise the quality or the scope of their studies, as evidenced by the enrollment of over 1,700 patients.

On a broader scale, Lindus Health has enrolled over 30,000 patients in diagnostic trials across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. Moreover, Lindus’s recent introduction of the “All-in-One Diagnostics CRO” further elevates their clinical trials by leveraging their expertise in testing, monitoring, and biomarker identification of indications across nearly all therapeutic areas. Despite having been founded only a few years ago, their commitment to accelerating and improving the quality of dermatology trials has helped Lindus emerge as one of the top CROs for acne research.

7. Syneos Health Dermatology CRO

Syneos Health is another world-renowned Dermatology CRO that is an industry leader in acne research and dermatology trials. What sets Syneos apart is its deep clinical development and therapeutic expertise in dermatology drug development, which is supported by insights garnered from across the clinical to commercial spectrum. Not only are they able to offer flexible, integrated solutions from Phase I research to commercialization, but the company boasts an impressive track record, encompassing the completion of more than 200 dermatology trials since 2016. Syneos provides full-spectrum services for a range of skin diseases, most notably acne. Sponsors who partner with this experienced CRO also benefit from its vast network of over 3,000 dermatologists to ensure smooth patient recruitment in clinical trials. With a clinical operations team that possesses extensive dermatology research experience, Syneos has established its strong capabilities with dermatology trials and acne research.

8. Parexel Dermatology CRO

Parexel is next on our list of CRO standouts for acne research in dermatology trials, largely due to the company’s unique and effective approach to inflammation and immunology conditions. Parexel is one of a few CROs that approach therapeutic areas like dermatology and immunology with a unified focus on the drug’s mechanism of action (MOA) rather than treating them as separate medical subspecialties. Alongside common dermatologic conditions such as acne and atopic dermatitis, they have also demonstrated proficiency in more niche diseases such as vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa.

In the past five years alone, this CRO has conducted over 360 clinical projects and enrolled more than 114,000 patients at over 21,600 sites, indicating their wide reach and capacity to handle large-scale studies in dermatology research. Another key factor in Parexel’s success is its comprehensive team of physicians, which boasts many years of experience treating inflammatory disorders like acne and successfully executing trials across every phase of drug development. Most importantly, the company emphasizes collaboration with patients from the very beginning, recognizing the value their voices can lend to improving the clinical trial process.

9. Innovaderm Research, a Specialized Dermatology CRO

Since its founding, Innovaderm has built a robust portfolio of clinical studies spanning a wide array of dermatological conditions, including acne. Their research extends to a wide patient population, covering adults, adolescents, children, and the elderly across varying phototypes. Headquartered in Canada, the company has established a geographical reach that spans the USA, Canada, and Europe in the field of dermatology research. Their track record includes over 500 dermatology trials in more than 30 indications, collaborating with 3,100 investigators and nearly 85,000 participants worldwide.

As a highly specialized niche dermatology CRO, Innovaderm offers a wide range of scientific study capabilities, including safety and efficacy studies, single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose studies, as well as maximum-usage trials, among others. With nearly 25 years of dermatology research experience, Innovaderm consistently surpasses expectations in studying skin diseases, placing it among the top CROs for acne research.

10. ICON Dermatology CRO

Last but certainly not least, we have ICON plc, one of the largest and most well-recognized CROs worldwide. With a long-standing understanding of the dermatology field, particularly acne research, the company’s dedicated Dermatology CRO comprises over 400 experienced professionals, including a dedicated team of more than 80 project managers, which has enabled it to sustain a substantial global presence.

In the last decade alone, ICON has conducted 115 studies involving 59,167 patients across 5,825 sites worldwide. Their dedicated site network, Accellacare, has conducted 381 dermatology research studies involving over 6,200 patients across 153 sites worldwide. The company’s vast suite of dermatology services includes a readily available team of dermatologists covering sites, skin photography, various robust questionnaires to reliably collect data from acne research trials, and more. From early-phase research through site selection and engagement, ICON is committed to taking an integrated approach to ensure that all aspects of their dermatology trials are meticulously handled

Conclusion

These top 10 dermatology CROs are industry leaders in the realm of acne research and dermatology trials, offering extensive expertise, innovative solutions, and dedicated support to sponsors around the world. Although each of these organizations follows different approaches to supporting innovation in dermatology research, they all demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing this field and improving outcomes for patients with acne and other debilitating skin diseases.  

TFS HealthScience: Meet Our Dermatology CRO Leadership

We are proud to spotlight our dermatology leadership, Ina Zschocke, who has brought a wealth of experience to her role at TFS HealthScience as Vice President, Head of Dermatology, Immunology, & Inflammatory Diseases. With her background as the co-founder and managing partner of SCIderm, a leading dermatology CRO, Ina has over 20 years of experience in all operational aspects, including clinical operations, project management, and business development. Her therapeutic expertise is underscored by her Ph.D. in Psychology and a Master’s in Drug Regulatory Affairs, in addition to having published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Ina is a passionate and driven leader who has guided the dermatology team at TFS to consistently deliver high-quality clinical trials, as well as achieve successful business development and strategic partnerships.

Connect with Ina Zschocke on LinkedIn here! 

About TFS HealthScience CRO

TFS HealthScience is a global CRO with an established foothold in therapeutic research for widespread skin diseases such as acne. Our team of clinical experts supports biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout their entire clinical development journey with dermatology trials. Visit our dedicated Dermatology CRO website to learn more about the expertise TFS can offer for your next dermatology clinical trial, or connect with a TFS representative today!