Partnership-driven value in drug development: Compelling insights from new research
Category | Clinical trial services
Partnering with a single vendor for comprehensive drug development, manufacturing, research, and clinical supply services can accelerate trial starts and substantially reduce development costs, according to new research by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. The study, which analyzed the impact of integrated service models on oncology drug programs, showed that this approach can significantly cut development timelines across clinical phases while improving cost efficiency.
Joseph A. DiMasi, PhD, Director of Economic Analysis and Research Associate Professor at Tufts, presented the findings in a recent webinar, Maximizing Value Across Drug Development: Embracing a New CDMO and CRO Partnership Approach. Joined by Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Brenda Bruker, Executive Director of Integrated Supply & Delivery Services, and Brittany Hall, Director of Integrated Offering and PM Community of Practice, Dr. DiMasi discussed the practical benefits of consolidating traditionally fragmented processes into a cohesive partnership.
This approach, embodied by Thermo Fisher’s recently launched Accelerator™ Drug Development, tailors solutions across research and development, manufacturing, and clinical domains to meet the unique needs of each program. Providing cohesive and comprehensive support across the drug development journey by a single vendor helps sponsors streamline workflows, reduce risks, and maintain development momentum to get to market faster.
Modeling the impact of integration
To quantify the impact of an integrated CDMO and CRO approach, the Tufts team used expected Net Present Value (eNPV) modeling—a method that calculates the projected financial value of an investment by factoring in costs, risks, and anticipated revenues over time. For drug sponsors, eNPV modeling provides a clear metric for evaluating whether a particular development strategy will deliver meaningful returns.
“eNPV modeling provides a critical lens to evaluate strategies that prioritize both speed and quality,” explained Dr. DiMasi. “The data shows that integrated frameworks can reliably deliver returns on investment while reducing operational inefficiencies.” In this study, the analysis demonstrated that consolidating services under a single provider significantly improves financial outcomes, with some oncology programs achieving up to $44 million in added value.
“Time is money in drug development,” Dr. DiMasi added, noting that reducing phase cycle times and minimizing inefficiencies helps sponsors not only save costs but also gain a faster route to market, translating into higher returns on investment.
Implications for drug development: Real-world examples
For drug sponsors, this comprehensive partnership approach addresses common pain points in development, including the delays and miscommunication that often arise with multiple vendors.
“Sponsors consistently highlight the challenges of fragmented partnerships. What we’ve shown is that a cohesive, single-vendor approach doesn’t just mitigate those challenges—it creates opportunities to move faster and smarter,” Dr. DiMasi said.
Thermo Fisher’s Brenda Bruker emphasized the value of leveraging expertise across domains and tailoring solutions to the specific needs of each program. She added, “This approach isn’t just efficient—it proactively aligns each phase of development, reducing administrative gaps and helping sponsors stay ahead of potential challenges.”
The impact of this comprehensive approach is evident in real-world projects. One biotech sponsor, facing a potential 18-month delay due to assay variability and regulatory challenges, turned to Thermo Fisher for support. By leveraging the tailored solutions and expertise enabled through Accelerator Drug Development, the team quickly addressed assay issues, revised testing specifications, and streamlined processes. As a result, the sponsor saved more than $1 million and accelerated its First-in-Human trial by a full year.
“This is what a tailored, unified approach can do,” Thermo Fisher’s Brittany Hall noted. “By aligning the right expertise at the right time, we avoided a major delay and kept the program moving forward.”
Another example involved a large biopharma company with a global oncology study involving more than 450 clinical sites. The comprehensive capabilities encompassed by Accelerator Drug Development enabled the integration of project management and clinical operations. As a result, the sponsor was able to activate trial sites ahead of schedule and reduced administrative workloads by 35%. According to Hall, “The ability to connect teams and streamline communication was key to meeting aggressive milestones while maintaining quality.”
The future of drug development
These case studies highlight just how transformative a comprehensive, integrated solution can be for navigating the complexities of drug development. As the Tufts research demonstrates, this model redefines how sponsors can approach their most pressing challenges.
“With the growing pressures in drug development—both financial and operational—streamlining these processes isn’t just beneficial; it’s becoming a necessity,” Dr. DiMasi said. By addressing inefficiencies, reducing risks, and creating a more predictable path to market, this approach offers a powerful way to accelerate timelines and deliver life-changing therapies to patients.
Watch the on-demand webinar Maximizing Value Across Drug Development: Embracing a New CDMO and CRO Partnership Approach to see how Accelerator Drug Development can streamline your journey and help bring your innovation to market faster.
