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Gastroenterology

In depth clinical trial expertise in GI and hepatology disorders

PPD partners closely with customers across a number of gastroenterology disorders. Our team is rich in clinical talent with physicians understand the progress needed to treat indications in this disease. The gastroentrology team has performed trials for the majority of top 10 pharmaceutical companies and for emerging biotech companies.

PPD has an established track record of delivering. With many of the studies we have managed enrolling and completing early in a competitive environment. With a dedicated staff of experts with broad experience, our gastroenterology clinical trials are executed successfully and innovatively with each customer’s goal in mind.

A confluence of factors has spawned an exponential increase in gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders that are taking their toll on quality of life and life expectancy for millions of people worldwide. 

Your compound may be the first to have a measurable impact on hundreds of millions of people with NASH, or a greater efficacy and safety for millions more who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease and functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

PPD’s experience in the past five years:

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Gastroenterological trials

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Global sites

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Global patients

Access to patients that launches your study faster

PPD owns a large patient database of fully identified and opted-in patients, plus a global network of 180+ dedicated research sites worldwide.

Because we know the patients and we own the sites, we can accurately forecast and offer patient enrollment and budget certainty. This virtually eliminates the usual uncertainty surrounding patient numbers, site performance, enrollment timelines and costs. Moreover, it allows us to launch your study faster, with quality patients, using fewer sites that perform at maximum capacity. 

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Connecting with IBD patients with COLO Flare

IBD studies are extremely competitive, and PPD offers our customers a competitive edge. Through IBDConnect, we bring your IBD study directly to patients at their own GI physician’s office instead of solely relying on active research sites to source patients.

And with our COLO Flare app, pre-screened patients can quickly report IBD flares and other study-specific criteria via an app, to their local site, so they can be immediately screened for your study. Patients remain engaged until flare symptoms emerge, and then they’re directed to their site coordinator to discuss study participation.  

Clear, accurate biopsy results for NAFLD and NASH

Because clear, accurate biopsy results are critical for your study, we provide each site with standardized biopsy collection and slide preparation procedures. We coordinate patients’ schedules, submitting samples to the central reviewer or pathologist, and results reporting.

Case study #1: Nash program
Background

Challenging study: HVPG, liver biopsy, FibroScan, MBR, EGD, progression of cirrhosis

Challenges
  • Site activation: HVPG approval and amendment during start-up
  • Blinded infusions
  • Subject-level tracking of procedures and imaging
  • Expected 25% dropout rate
  • PK collection and testing included
  • Sample management for PK & Central Lab
Outcomes
  • Strong site activation performance: FSA 90 days
  • High subject compliance: achieved 9% dropout
  • Met enrollment for 162 pts in 13 months
  • Maintained enrollment timelines despite higher than expected screen fail rate; achieved DB lock and Last COV early
PPD benefit
  • PPD: pioneer in standardizing HVPG; reduced site set-up time and qualification
  • Strong clinical team/site relationships
  • Maintained data currency across several specialized vendors

Nash expertise

To better understand the NAFLD and NASH patient population, our AES team surveyed 441 adults with fatty liver disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and obesity about their conditions and their perceptions toward clinical trial participation. The results formed the basis of our recruitment strategies, enabling us to target and identify the most qualified patients closest to study sites.

  • Deep understanding of medical and regulatory requirements
  • Ability to provide consultation on all aspects of the study
  • Strong site relationships and experience with fast-enrolling sites
  • Proven rapid startup with known NASH sites
  • Refined patient pathway for efficient diagnosis process, ensuring maximum patient reach
  • Experience with novel imaging techniques and manage liver biopsies

PPD’s global footprint and experience planning, staffing and executing global Phase III trials can help your NASH clinical trial succeed. Fill out the form below to talk to us about how we can help.