Thermo Fisher Scientific’s PPD Clinical Research Business Selected to Support National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Trials Support Unit

The PPD clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has been awarded a 10-year Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, to support NCI’s Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU). As part of the award, the PPD clinical research business will have the opportunity to coordinate the resources and processes necessary to identify, deploy, support and maintain a platform for the collection and migration of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) and other patient-generated health data into NCI Multi-Center Organization (MCO) clinical trials supported by CTSU.

Thermo Fisher’s PPD clinical research business has three decades of experience successfully delivering clinical research services to governmental agencies, contractors and nonprofits in conducting therapeutic, vaccine and medical device studies on a global scale across all trial phases and a broad array of therapeutic areas.

“NCI’s focus on progressing cancer research across the nation is one we all support, to advance scientific knowledge and to help all people live longer, healthier lives,” said David M. Johnston, PhD, Senior Vice President and President, Clinical Research, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The research that NCI champions is vital to improving the outcomes of patients battling this group of diseases. We are privileged to support NCI in those efforts.”

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2022, NCI estimates there will be more than 1.9 million new cases of cancer and more than 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States. Globally, the World Health Organization notes that nearly one in every six deaths can be attributed to cancer, with approximately 400,000 children developing cancer every year.

The business’ team of experts providing PPD Digital and Decentralized solutions works closely with leading research organizations around the world to navigate evolving trends in drug development, including the design and deployment of customized, remote clinical trials. The business employs innovative electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA) technologies to enable sites, patients and customers to share data more effectively than traditional methods. In addition, eCOAs and ePROs use digital platforms to enable direct data collection from study stakeholders, resulting in less paper documentation and more timely data, with greater consistency from patients. The business has been a guiding force in the industry, bringing long-standing expertise and establishing best practices for study teams embarking on new modes of clinical research.

The business’ oncology center of excellence provides strategic and operational oversight and promotes knowledge sharing and best practices, while its immuno-oncology center of excellence serves to deliver patient-centric solutions and collaborates with industry organizations to overcome challenges associated with immuno-oncology trials. In addition, the business’ early development oncology group features experts in the planning and operationalizing of Phase 1-2 studies, as well as the development of early-stage oncology compounds and the oversight of clinical programs.

The PPD clinical research business has conducted over 675 oncology and hematology studies in the past five years involving more than 114,000 patients at over 26,000 sites around the world. Those trials represent more than one-quarter of the studies the business has conducted in that time. The business’ team of experts providing PPD^® Laboratory services helped develop 24 of the top 25 best-selling oncology drugs of 2020.

This project will be funded in whole with federal funds from the NCI, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under Contract No. 75N91022D00012. 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, visit www.thermofisher.com.