ORION News

ORION ANNOUNCES PRIMARY CARE NETWORK - JULY 2005

The ORION Primary Care Network (PCN) was recently established to address the growing need for rapid and easy access to UK GPs with a proven track record in clinical research.

Members of the ORION PCN have been carefully selected. All the GPs within the network have an active interest in clinical research, have sufficient time and resources, and are committed to meeting recruitment targets. Our objective is to enable our sponsors to select the best possible sites in the shortest possible timeframe.

So, what can the ORION Primary Care Network offer?

• Top line feasibility in 1 week
  Including: protocol review, analysis of patient population, actual database search, predicted number of sites required, patients per site and estimated recruitment period
• Detailed feasibility / site selection in 2 weeks
  Including: summary of site feasibility and breakdown of real patient numbers per site, recommended list of sites and individual site profiles, detailed feasibility summary
• Realistic feasibility from population analysis and investigator databases (click here for example database searches)
• Detailed feasibility studies (click here for example feasibility studies)
• Faster and more predictable recruitment
• Rapid site start-up following full regulatory approval
• Reduction in the need for pre-study visits

Why use the ORION Primary Care Network?

• ORION has extensive in-house experience of primary care and knowledge of the main primary care database systems
• ORION is not a Site Management Organisation so we do not take a percentage of the invesigators' fees
• Sites are chosen for their suitability for a certain study, not because we need to meet financial targets with the sites
• We only use established research sites, we do not 'try-out' sites
• All GPs in the ORION PCN are experienced recruiters and as a minimum all sites have:
  • Electronic patient database
  • Dedicated research facilities
  • Dedicated research time
  • Centrifuge
  • ECG
  • Research fridge / freezer
  • Research nurse or administration assistant

How the feasibility process works

Upon receipt of a synopsis / study protocol, our feasibility team move swiftly into action. The synopsis / protocol is reviewed by a medic and a feasibility co-ordinator. A questionnaire is then generated focussing on population analysis, practicality of implementation of the study at the site level, recruitment projections and the likelihood of meeting those projections. The questionnaire is sent to pre-screened sites. Feedback from the sites is routinely received within a few days; the patient population is examined by means of a database search and / or a patient funnel (click here for an example)

Feedback to the sponsor is provided by means of a feasibility summary (click here for an example) detailing key study metrics i.e. number of sites, number of patients per site, likely recruitment window, comments on the protocol for ease of implementation and any ethical concerns.

How does ORION select the best investigative sites for your clinical study?

Site suitability is judged on the following factors:

• The therapeutic area
• The experience of the GP
• The recruitment period
• The length of time the patient is on study drug
• The sponsor's requirements i.e. geographical preferences or marketing considerations if any

If you would be interested in hearing more about the ORION PCN, please contact the UK Business Development Team on tel: +44 (0)1753 578080 or email ORION