CMOCRO: Intuitive Platform Provides Quick Access to Global Database of Pharmaceutical Suppliers, Supports Partnering Decisions
CMOCRO is an intuitive platform designed to quickly access a global database of pharmaceutical suppliers, and aims to support users in their partnering decisions. CMOCRO derives its strength from being a subsidiary of PharmaCircle, a trusted resource provider to the pharmaceutical industry, and a joint venture with current awareness provided by Drug Development & Delivery. This article will review and discuss key features of the CMOCRO site.
The CMOCRO site is an open access site requiring only registration to access the database. Both registration and access to the database are free of cost. The only point to note here is that the system automatically logs out users who have been idle for a long time. The layout of the homepage of the CMOCRO site is such that users can easily access the search features as well as learn about the latest developments in the field (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Snapshot of the Homepage
Search Boxes
The site provides two search boxes, placed side by side, just below the top bar. By using these search boxes, users can ping the database either for company-related information or for category-related information.
1. Company Name Search: the first search box is for information on companies. Upon entering the company name, the user is directed to a detailed page. This detailed page lists key information and the kind of services provided by the company (see the Compare and Contrast section for further detail). The in-built “auto-suggestion” feature in the search box is quite helpful in looking for the correct keyword.
2. Category Name Search: if the user wants to know about companies operating in a particular category, such as immune biomarkers or APIs, they can type the name of the category in the second search box and ping the database. The search will display the list of companies in that category. The user can further refine the result with the help of check boxes.
The interface allows either access to a detailed page on a particular company (by clicking on the name) or selecting multiple companies and comparing their attributes. We will discuss the compare and contrast feature in the next section.
The middle panel in the homepage, labelled Category Search, provides an option to directly select categories instead of typing them. The drop down box has 16 defined major categories. If the user is familiar with the categorization used by the CMOCRO team, this option can be helpful in quickly accessing the database.
News & Articles
The homepage layout is such that on either side it has panels related to key events and featured articles. These news and articles are sourced directly from company sites and the Drug Development & Delivery portal. While the Current News panel is more for information purposes, the Featured Articles section contains opinion pieces and provides useful summaries on a particular topic. Both the panels feature Top 10 articles. Archived news items can be found in the News section on the top bar.
Comparative Assessment
The decision to collaborate or partner with a particular company requires detailed assessment of a prospective partner on a multitude of parameters. As there is often more than one suitable candidate, the choice will require careful comparison of prospective partners’ strengths and weaknesses.
The powerful Compare and Contrast feature can be of great help in such scenarios. The user can search and select up to 20 companies. Clicking on the Compare icon will display results in a visual format, which allows users to evaluate quickly how different prospective partners are stacked as per their area(s) of interest. For example, suppose we are interested in five companies that are involved in API manufacturing (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Snapshot of Compare and Contrast Results Page
Now, using the Compare and Contrast feature, we can easily see how the five companies compare with each other on different attributes. This visual representation has the potential to aid in quick pruning of the prospective list. The comparison is comprehensive and covers all of the services provided by a company.
Another interesting aspect of the Compare and Contrast feature is the hyperlinking of texts. When a user clicks on the company names, they reach a page giving a short description, contact information and service listing (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Snapshot of a Description Page on Chirolabs
In addition to the company detail page, every category is hyperlinked. If the user clicks on a particular category, they will be directed to a page that will have a list of companies associated with this category. The user can select the companies they are interested in (up to 20) and check the comparative analysis.
CountrY-Specific Information
The CRO Wizard is a useful tool to look for companies based in a particular location. The database can be searched to find companies based in one location or to find companies with a multi-country base. For example, searching the database with Israel or India yields a list of 48 and 250 companies, respectively. However, when we combine both the locations, we get 19 companies. These companies have bases in both countries.
This tool also allows users to see a list of companies categorized as per various parameters. For this, the user chooses Continue instead of List Companies. This categorization helps in further refinement of data by using check boxes.
Once a company list is generated, the user can select the companies of interest and click on Compare. This will take users to the Compare and Contrast page, discussed in the previous section.
Adding to the Database
The CMOCRO site offers an easy way to get one’s company and services listed in the database. Once registered with the site (which is free), the user fills in a web form, describing their offerings. CMOCRO staff members will review the submitted form and list the company in the database.
Support
The user is required to mention their query in the Contact Us form. The CMOCRO team promises a quick response to any query, mostly within 24 hours.
Value & FreePint’s View
Simplicity and comprehensiveness are the key differentiators for the CMOCRO database. The search platform is intuitive and does not require a high level of training to use it. The data is well categorized and accessible from multiple access points.The Compare and Contrast feature is highly valuable for users looking for partners. The visualization allows easy absorption of information relating to similarities and differences between the companies compared. This, in turn, is a great aid in the decision-making process. The icing on the cake is that all this information is free to access. It will be worthwhile to register and explore this database.
Contact Details
PharmaCircle LLC
199 La Costa
Encinitas, CA 92024-1108
Tel (US): +1-760-436-1199
Email: contact@pharmacircle.com
Website: www.cmocro.com
Dr. Ashish Shukla is an independent consultant to the biopharmaceutical industry with over 6 years of experience in market research and competitive intelligence. His consultancy firm Oncofocus Solutions caters to the primary and secondary research needs of biopharmaceutical companies looking for business solutions in the oncology domain. The firm’s guiding principle is “to become a decision support partner by providing framework driven research support and actionable insights.” Dr. Shukla earned his PhD from the German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany, and has over 7 years of research experience in molecular biology. He has authorship in eight peer-reviewed research papers.
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