Phlexglobal, the UK-based contract research organisation (CRO) that specialises in clinical trial administration services such as document management and ethics committee submissions, hopes to open a US facility this summer to capitalise on increasing interest in the electronic Trial Ma
ster File (TMF) solution it launched last October.
Following a successful appearance at the Drug Information Association’s 21st annual conference on electronic document management in Philadelphia last month, Phlexglobal is now looking for a suitable facility either in that city or in Bosto
n. The move also reflects a sustained period of growth in the UK and deepening interest from both current and potential US-based clients in the company’s services, Phlexglobal noted.
The PhlexEview solution introduced last year is designed as an “end-to-end” TMF solution that allows secure, logical electronic searching and viewing of centralised TMF documentation from sponsors, subsidiaries, CROs and field-based personnel anywhere in the world and at any time. It promises to promote resource efficiency, improve communications and avoid “the common end-of-study TMF reconciliation difficulties”, as Phlexglobal described them.
Individual paper or electronic documents are scanned and indexed according to the agreed TMF structure. The indexed documents are then synchronised to a server located in a secure hosting environment and made available for secure viewing and downloading over the internet through the PhlexEview search facility.
US operation ‘essential’
According to Nigel Murgatroyd, Phlexglobal’s chief executive officer, the Trial Master File “has global reach and, as this is one of our core business services, having an operation in the States is essential”.
Phlexglobal is “initially looking to take our PhlexEview and TMF solutions, and associated services such as Task Force and Training, to America as that is where the current demand lies”, he added. “There is a concern from American companies about sending documentation internationally and so opening a US facility will reduce the transportation required and increase customer confidence.”
Phlexglobal also plans to expand into Europe with these services and, importantly, its resourcing operations. The goal is to open a network of European offices over the next three years. “This will enable Phlexglobal to source the best personnel for all its European clients,” the company commented.
