As the number of next-generation oncology therapies in the clinical trial pipeline surges, Premier Research today announced three new oncology leadership team hires to strengthen the company’s expertise in the fast-growing areas of cell and gene therapies and immuno-oncology. Premier Research is a leading provider of clinical research, product development, and consulting services to the biotech, specialty pharma, medical device, and diagnostics sectors, notably in oncology.
“Over the past 20 years, the number of oncology studies nearly quadrupled from 421 to 1,489, according to a recent Tufts study,” said Krista Armstrong, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development Services. “These extraordinarily complex studies require longer Phase 2 and 3 screening and treatment compared to other drug trials and generate huge volumes of data and more protocol amendments. Our deep oncology bench is expanding to anticipate the needs of sponsors as their development of oncology therapies intensifies.”
Slawomir Wojtowicz-Praga, M.D., has joined the company's skilled oncology team as Vice President, Global Head of Medical Affairs. Ayesha A. Pandit, M.D., M.S., MBA, has been named Vice President, Medical Oncology Strategy, and Ashley Herrick, Ph.D., has joined as Executive Director, Oncology Strategy.
“Oncology is the most active sector of drug development,” Dr. Pandit noted. “In this new landscape, sponsors need a truly collaborative partner who can deliver the end-to-end clinical development, therapeutic, and regulatory expertise essential for running global oncology studies effectively — all areas in which Premier Research excels in providing valuable scientific expertise and collaborative partnership to the biotech sector.”
Over the past five years, Premier Research’s experts have supported more than 310 hematology and oncology projects, including managing more than 40 rare oncology and hematology studies and 19 cell and gene oncology studies. Premier Research leverages its extensive geographic footprint to provide sponsors with greater access to the right patients and enhanced operational support in some of the world’s fastest-growing regions for clinical development, including significant experience in the Asia-Pacific region. More details on Premier Research’s oncology and hematology experience can be found here.
“We offer a complete suite of services, from product development to regulatory strategies, led by experts skilled not just in all phases of oncology drug development but also the commercialization process,” said Dr. Armstrong. "Working with sponsors from the beginning, we’re able to better help them take advantage of adaptive designs that make trials more flexible and efficient as well as remote and decentralized clinical trial approaches that reduce patient and sponsor burden in an ever-changing clinical research landscape. With the newest additions to our oncology team, sponsors can feel even more confident in choosing Premier Research as a strategic partner to bring their new life-changing therapies to market.”
“Oncology drug development has been our focus for several decades,” Dr. Wojtowicz-Praga said. “The spotlight has shifted recently, however, from chemotherapy protocols to remarkable innovations in immunology, molecular and cell biology, and genetics, disciplines that are right in our wheelhouse.”
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