Scaling Up For Savings with Global Monitoring FSPx Relationship
1. Scaling Up for Savings
with a Flexible Global
Monitoring FSPx Relationship
Case Study
A large pharmaceutical company was exploring options for more cost-effective monitoring of their
global clinical studies. This case study highlights how the client transitioned their monitoring
functions to Covance Functional Service Provider (now termed FSPx) services and how their
relationship with Covance has grown to deliver global scalability and single-vendor efficiency
over the last 11 years.
Smoothly Handling Initial Transition
Challenges
In 2008, the sponsor asked Covance FSPx to manage
100 clinical research associates (CRAs) and clinical trial
associates (CTAs) in 40 countries. At the time, the client was
transitioning from multiple FSP providers at a local level to
a more streamlined, efficient approach with Covance as its
single global provider for CRAs.
Although there was some resistance to this change at the
level of the local affiliates, Covance FSPx worked to develop
relationships at the local level by assigning a global account
director, supported by FSPx managers on a regional and local
level who could partner with client affiliate offices. This effort
provided a clear communication track between all affiliates.
To accommodate the unique differences across 40 countries,
Covance FSPx created a custom integration plan that
evaluated each country’s resource requirements, challenges, team culture and dynamics. As a result, the
FSPx team helped ease the transition and ensured that monitoring timelines were met and deliverables
remained on track.
Quickly Ramping Up
Within six months of the completed transition, the client was so pleased with the results that they felt confident in
doubling the number of CRAs and CTAs through the Covance FSPx model.
By 2011, the Covance FSPx provided over 400 CRAs and CTAs. In addition, the client also had asked Covance to handle
the employment of several Project Management groups.
Expanding the FSPx Model with Custom Onboarding and Training Program
After a few years of steady growth with FSPx, the client wanted to expand their Covance FSPx services in 2013 to
include an enhanced full-time employee model. In this “input-based” model, the client assigned the work and retained
responsibility; Covance FSPx directly managed the staff and took responsibility for resource management, developing a
customized training program for onboarding CRAs.
A few years later, Covance FSPx was asked to perform a continual review of
labor laws to ensure compliance in all countries as the total number of
FSPx staff grew from 600 to just over 800 people.
Highlights
Eased the transition of global
clinical monitoring to a single
provider
Created a custom integration
plan across 40 countries
Rapidly expanded growth of
CRA, CTA and PM staffing
Provided flexibility with
employment models and a pilot
FSPx study
Achieved high client satisfaction
rates with FSPx 850 full-time
employees