Advancing FSP Models For The Future

By Wendy Bilham, Global Head of Clinical FSP at IQVIA

As the cost of drug development continues to rise and clinical research becomes lengthier and more complex, biopharmaceutical companies must find efficient ways to deliver trials with greater speed and quality at scale. One approach is through the use of a functional service provider (FSP) model, which gives sponsors access to experienced clinical research personnel without the cost and risk of employing qualified full-time staff. 

Traditional clinical FSP models provide the flexibility to rapidly ramp-up global clinical teams across the globe, and easily adjust headcount in response to changes across studies or a portfolio of studies — whether that requires shutting down a program or building additional capacity due to incoming assets or an acquisition. Because functional service providers handle all the hiring, training and personnel administration, sponsors can focus their time on the most business-critical functions for them.

By strategically selecting services, technologies, and tools that empower clinical staff and harmonize historically fragmented elements across the clinical trial lifecycle, sponsors can create tailored, scalable solutions that significantly improve efficiencies.