Singapore: Merck Serono and Quintiles have signed a new, five-year clinical development agreement. This strategic collaboration is the first-of-its-kind between a biopharmaceutical company and a biopharmaceutical services provider, creating a comprehensive process that integrates the expertise and experience from both organizations into a single, well-aligned clinical development engine.

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck Serono will shape and lead the strategy of its clinical development programs, with Quintiles directing clinical trial planning and execution. Quintiles will also be a key contributor to Merck Serono's future clinical trial design activities. In this capacity, Quintiles will focus on delivering superior performance based on optimized clinical trial design and execution strategies, using highly efficient processes and proven technologies.

To fully leverage the expertise of both organizations, leaders from Quintiles will collaborate in strategic decision-making processes affecting the development of the Merck Serono portfolio.

Ms Annalisa Jenkins, executive VP and head, global development and medical, Merck Serono, said that, "This is an innovative and unique collaboration that will help to translate the highest-quality science into efficiency and agility throughout our clinical trials, while enhancing our competitive position in an increasingly challenging environment of clinical drug development."

Moving forward, Quintiles will be the sole primary provider of Merck Serono's outsourced clinical development services for its global clinical programs. The agreement will span the full spectrum of clinical development, from phase I through to post-marketing approvals. Importantly, it will also allow Merck Serono to expand its reach globally by leveraging the broad local expertise of Quintiles to implement development programs around the world.