TACT opens up clinical research services in B'lore

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Wednesday, 15 September 2004, 19:30 IST
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NEW YORK: Responding to rising pressures to cut costs of clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe, The A Consulting Team (TACT), [Nasdaq SmallCap:TACX] an IT and BPO services provider to Fortune 1000 companies, has now started providing a specialty service to providers of clinical research technology and services in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. TACT announced that it has been awarded a major, multi-year, BPO agreement with a leading provider of clinical research technology and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. TACT, utilizing its offshore capabilities, began providing electrocardiograph (ECG) evaluations in July, and it expects the outsourcing volume to grow over the next several quarters. In the last decade, regulatory agencies have withdrawn from the market or have denied approval to several drugs that adversely affect the heart—prolonging what is called the QT interval. The QT interval measures the duration of ventricular re-polarization. A prolonged QT interval can lead to a potentially fatal arrhythmia. The International Conference on Harmonization has proposed guidelines that, when finalized, will require that all drugs, regardless of therapeutic area, be thoroughly evaluated for cardiac safety. This has been the catalyst to analyze ECG data. TACT, utilizing its regulatory compliant facility in Bangalore, began to provide electrocardiograph (ECG) clinical Interpretation and analytical services; to a firm that provides services to Clinical Research organizations (CRO), pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. To achieve this, TACT has appointed reputed board-certified Cardiologists who will be review, analyze and interpret cardiac safety data, and report their findings and support the cardiac safety decision-making process. Protection patient confidentiality is critical to US HIPAA regulations, and TACT uses regulatory guidance and technical standard workflow to transmit safe and secure relevant patient data across its global offices. Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Shmuel BenTov, TACT’s chairman and CEO, said, “We are delighted at the opportunity to extend our outsourcing offerings into the BPO market and the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries. CRO and Pharmaceutical sector future appears rosy in years to come, due to commitment to expand globally, and we are looking forward for preferred relationships with our customers.” Mr. Sanjeev Welling, TACT’s Director of Outsourcing Solution, said, “TACT is committed to provide quality regulatory compliant services to global CRO, Pharmaceutical and medical devices companies worldwide. Our credible offshore facility is designed to respond quickly to large volumes. TACT outsourcing solutions will help companies globally to manage their cost without compromising quality in a growing competitive business environment. We strive to continue to grow in this area.”

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