Demand to spur full-service model, strategic partnerships, and growth in preclinical services
Contract Research Organizations (CROs) provide outsourced research services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, allowing them to manage R&D costs and focus on their core competencies. These services include drug and device research and development, including drug discovery, preclinical and clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance, and related data management and consulting services.
Preclinical services, which include discovery services, represent 15% of the CRO market. These consist of drug safety testing and toxicity testing in the form of in-vivo and in-vitro experimentation. In-vitro experimentation, conducted using laboratory tools, is used to test the efficacy of a drug on microorganisms, such as extracted cell tissue or DNA molecules. In-vivo experimentation in preclinical trials and drug discovery involves testing on animal models, rather than isolated organisms.