In today’s competitive drug development climate, partnership with a contract research organization (CRO) that can improve your efficiency and boost productivity is on the rise. In fact, the global market for CROs is projected to climb from $49.8 billion in 2022 to $90.4 billion by 2030 . But choosing the right CRO can be tricky. All outsourcing partners are not created equal, which means choosing the right CRO is one of the most important decisions you, as a sponsor, must make. Below are five key steps to get it right.

Know what your clinical trial needs. Every clinical trial is nuanced with unique intricacies that impact the capabilities your CRO partner needs to bring to the table. Before reaching out to potential partners, think through the key challenges you want a CRO to help you resolve. For example, do you need specific therapeutic expertise, such as dermatology, oncology, or ophthalmology? An established footprint in certain geographies? Insights and strategy for regulatory compliance? A clear understanding of the challenges and pain points you are looking to resolve will not only help you narrow your CRO search but also ensure your interactions with potential partners are underpinned with clear expectations and alignment on needs.

Choose the right strategic model. Many CROs offer different solutions for engagement, but during the last 10 years, two primary outsourcing models have really dominated the CRO-sponsor relationship space: full-service and functional service provider (FSP). Sponsors using a full-service model engage one or multiple CROs to support a wide range of clinical trial activities; sponsors using an FSP outsource specific services for a given function, which could include anything from data management or clinical monitoring to clinical trial management and oversight. Some FSP models even offer resourcing to help you find professional talent for short- or long-term support, which can range from a single resource to teams of experts in multiple countries. Which model is right for you depends on your trial, but it is wise to think through your likely choice and narrow your CRO search down to those that offer (and excel at delivering through) your model of choice.

Bring your cross-functional teams to the decision table. One of the most common mistakes sponsors make when it comes to CRO selection is keeping the decision siloed to only executive-level stakeholders. The truth is that no one knows the ins and outs of your trial like those in clinical operations, project and data management, R&D, procurement, and therapeutic experts. Gather their insights and use them to craft a plan for what CROs to invite to bid, the budget for engagement, the relationship’s objectives, and how the CRO will be managed.

Invest in a relationship. With the increase in CRO partnerships, the dynamics of these relationships have shifted over the past decade. Once considered transactional “in a pinch” support, CROs are now often viewed as seamless extensions of their sponsor organizations with the capacity to serve as trusted partners in the design and strategy of research when needed. Choose your CRO partner with this perspective in mind to reap the most value from their expertise —remember, they have likely supported the conduct of hundreds of trials like yours. Consider a plan to engage them in the preclinical phase of your protocol. Once you are at the clinical trial stage, it is difficult and expensive to change strategies, and opportunities are lost.

Do your research. There are plenty of CRO options out there touting their skills and expertise, but to quote an old saying, the proof is in the pudding. Dig deeper to find out how they have delivered in the past. Case studies with measurable outcomes are useful for this, as are performance benchmarking reports. The most impactful feedback will come from those who have worked with and experienced a CRO in the past. Their satisfaction (or lack thereof) will speak volumes about what you can expect.

If you are searching for a trusted CRO partner to support you in your research journey, TFS is here to help. We combine the full-service capabilities and global reach of a large CRO with the flexibility and personal approach only a mid-size CRO can deliver. With TFS, you get a shared commitment to your success. Reach out today or place an RFP to find out how we can help.