FSP partnership delivers sustained efficiency and innovation

ICON’s Strategic Solutions division was selected as the exclusive global clinical project management partner for a top-10 biopharmaceutical company. Our client wanted to work with a partner who could transform their project management function and apply a proactive approach to continuous innovation.

We have delivered a sustainable and cost effective model for the long term that has realised 20% cost efficiencies with a 30% reduction in client burden while missing no priority goals in the transition. We continue to meet the quality and performance metrics, while maintaining supply despite team growth of over 50%.

Before our partnership began, our client was using multiple local providers to manage their studies in-country. Our client was frustrated by the inefficiencies of running a localised model with an inconsistent approach to study execution and protocol expertise. They chose ICON as their transformation partner because of the unique vision we set out that would deliver sustained efficiencies through:

1. A framework to support the portfolio shift towards complex early oncology and novel modalities
2. An optimised regional hub model
3. Global centralisation of support functions
4. Deep data-led insight
5. A focus on business continuity

This transformation was a significant evolution of our client’s operating model. We implemented the change within six months with no disruption to studies. ICON is the only provider who has the capabilities to deliver such an ambitious transformation while meeting all priority goals.

Our approach was to optimising the study management function and deepen the protocol expertise by:

1. Adaptable protocol execution
We created an early development specialised team to support a growing novel modality pipeline including sharing innovations and best practices in decentralised and adaptive trial design. This included access to new technologies and expertise in feasibility and study start-up to support process evolution to drive speed and predictability.

Using our IGNITE innovation platform we collaborated across 15,000 people in both organisations who delivered ten innovative solutions to common challenges in ensuring inspection readiness.

2. Optimised regional hub model
The first step in the transformation began with simplifying and rationalising all roles across the full function globally. Once we had eliminated the local variation and duplication we were able to define the critical and non-critical tasks and redistribute these to the lowest possible level. This approach enabled us to maximise the allocation of highly skilled resources, reducing costs overall. Additionally, we leveraged our ICON University and created a dedicated team to deliver best-in-class training. Using a train-the-trainer model we built the responsibility for ongoing training and development into the teams enabling sustained excellence in delivery.

3. Global centralisation of support functions
In planning the hub approach we aligned with cross-functional stakeholders, choosing locations with large, sustainable talent pools. The regional hubs streamlined interactions, enabling faster decision making with clear accountabilities. Each region has its own hub with the UK and US additionally acting as global hubs and the global management support function was based in Mexico.

4. Deep data-led insight
We built a dynamic quality and oversight metrics platform enabling deep insight into the real-time operations of the function. We worked with our client to apply operational performance metrics and data analytics to drive speed and predictability in study execution. To support our resourcing strategy we developed a utilisation and forecasting tool enabling us to maintain supply despite team growth of over 50% to over 500.

5. A focus on business continuity
We engaged early with our client, helping them to design a model and approach that was lean and flexible. Our proven transition process and experienced team supported the development of the strategy before the new model and approach was agreed. We fully aligned with our client at every stage through a joint transition team with a focus on risk mitigation, building in space for any unexpected challenges while delivering the transition within a tight timeframe.

We have delivered significant savings above and beyond our client’s expectations and we continue to deliver efficiencies in how trials are managed. The model today is sustainable, cost effective, and flexible, supporting a constantly evolving pipeline.