CVBF has developed significant expertise in clinical trials (CTs) since 2002, first as Sponsor of no-profit studies and then also as Contract Research Organisation (CRO) providing services related to all phases of drug development
Currently, CVBF is registered as a non-commercial Sponsor of CTs at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as well as at the Italian Medicine Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA), where it is also self-certified as CRO. Many CVBF activities are conducted in the context of EU funded projects, however, CVBF provides also full CRO services to any category of Sponsors and for any type of products (e.g., drug, ATMP, medical device)
Medical Writing
Medical Writing
CVBF CRO writes and reviews a broad range of scientific documents based on the clients’ needs, performing also quality controls of all documents for compliance with the ICH standards and the strict EU regulatory requirements.
CVBF CRO prepares any type of studies related documentations such as:
- Study protocol
- Investigator’s Brochure (IB)
- Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD)
- Information sheets and consent form, and other informative material for patients
- Study-specific procedures and manuals
- Clinical Study Report (CSR)
- Manuscripts for medical and scientific journals
Regulatory
Regulatory
CVBF CRO gained an excellent experience on ethical-regulatory processes required for conducting any type of studies. Our services include:
- Registration and update of the study in recognised international registries
- Preparation of the master submission package and its adaptation to national/local requirements
- Management of the study authorization process from submission to final approval
- Negotiation of contract with site(s)
- Preparation and management of substantial amendments
- Notification of the end of the study
Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacovigilance
Professional CVBF CRO staff ensures safety and consistency throughout CTs process. In specific, our pharmacovigilance services include:
- Support to EudraVigilance registration
- Definition of security section in clinical study protocol
- Safety Management Plan preparation
- Collection, processing, and reporting of Serious Adverse Events/Serious Adverse Reactions
- Medical review of safety data
- Collection, processing, and reporting of SUSAR (suspect unexpected serious adverse reactions) to Competent Authorities (through EudraVigilance, if applicable) and ethic committees, as well as distribution of line listing to investigators
- Preparation and submission of Development Safety Update Report to competent authorities and ethic committees
- MedDRA coding
Trial Management
Trial Management
CVBF CRO manage all the activities related to study organization as well as lead preparation, activation, conduction, and reporting actions such as:
- Feasibility study and site selection
- Evaluation of study timelines, milestones, and planning
- Meetings/TCs organization (internal and external) to guarantee continuous updates on the ongoing activities and of the activity plan
- Organization of events involving investigators (Investigator’s meetings)
- Organization of training on GCP, study protocol and procedures
- Coordination of site activation, monitoring and site management
- Supporting activities as management of investigational product, study material and study equipment
- Identification of central facilities to meet specific study requirements
- Preparation and maintenance of essential documents (TMF/ISF)
- Clinical sites management, including issue resolution, deviation management, preventive and corrective actions
- Management of contractual issues with study sites
For each study, a CVBF CRO Project Manager (PM) will be identified with adequate experience according to the specific study characteristics and client’s needs. PM will coordinate the working team appointed for the study.
Monitoring
Monitoring
Qualified and knowledgeable CVBF CRO professionals with extensive clinical research experience guarantee high level of CT monitoring and site management services. CVBF’s senior Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) have a minimum of 15 years in industry and academia. CVBF CRO staff performs regular training programme, and it is always up to date on National and European regulations revision.
In detail, our monitoring services are:
- Site qualification & initiation
- Preparation of monitoring plan
- Site monitoring & management (performed both on-site and remotely, as needed): Site Initiation Visit (SIV), Monitoring visit (MOV), Site Close-out Visit (COV)Centralized monitoring (with support of data management function)
Quality Assurance and Auditing
QualityAssuranceandAuditing
- Assessment of company systems and implementation of ISO and GCP quality management systems
- Preparation of Standard Operating Procedure, manuals and quality policy statement
- Study and system GCP auditing
- Support to the clinical sites to acquire the requirements needed by the Determination AIFA n. 809/2015 for Phase I trial
Data Management
Data Management
CVBF CRO provides a full range of services for clinical data collection and management.
Our services lead to efficient managements of needs thanks to professional staff trained to maximize knowledge with innovative technologies, business processes, and attention to details. The data-management activities are organized at CVBF CRO to provide timely strategic information to the project team through the continuous monitoring of each single step of the study.
CVBF CRO services ranged among:
- Design and development of Case Report Form (CRF) (paper and electronic)
- Data Management Plan preparation
- Database design in accordance with CDISC/CDASH standards
- e-CRF hosting and backup
- Management of accesses to the e-CRF, training and technical user’s support
- Data management, data entry and database lock
- Medical coding (adverse events, concomitant medications, concomitant disease)
- Data cleaning
- Reconciliation of serious adverse events.
Statistics
Statistics
- Statistical support for the management of clinical and epidemiological studies
- Development of the Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)
- Statistical programming with SPSS and SAS
- Statistical analysis
- Preparation of integrated clinical and statistical reports
- Preparation and generation of randomization plans
Other strategic services
Other strategic services
Through the CVBF CRO world-class academic network, you have access to excellent experts with a deep and broad understanding of the requirements expected by regulators, which are crucial to design successful protocols in line with clients’ needs. Moreover, CVBF CRO offers translational services to introduce, in product pipelines, regulatory and technological innovations (e.g., advanced therapies, biologics, orphan drugs, and paediatric drugs) to your organisation. These CVBF CRO services include:
- Preparation of dossier for Orphan Designation, submission, and follow-up
- Preparation of Paediatric Investigation Plans (PIP), submission and follow-up
- Support the request for “Scientific Advice” and “Protocol Assistance”
Working with companies
Business collaborations are fundamental to reaching out our goals in delivering value and real world outcomes to patients and the society at large. Over the years we have established different kinds of collaboration with the Pharma Industries, Biotech Companies and CROs to make the most of resources while maximizing success.
All companies
Abiogen Pharma SpA, Italy
ABIONYX Pharma SA
ADVICE PHARMA GROUP SRL
Alfa Wassermann SpA, Italy
Analyze & realize
ApoPharma, Canada
Apotex Inc., Canada
Assobiotec, Italy
AstraZeneca SpA, Italy
Aziende Chimiche Riunite Angelini Francesco S.p.A.
Bayer SpA, Italy
Bracco SpA, Italy
Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, Italy
Dompé S.p.A., Italy
EG Spa Laboratori Eurogenerici, Italy
EXO Biologics
EXOM GROUP SRL
FIDIA FARMACEUTICI S.p.A.
Gentium SpA, Italy
I.RI.D.I.A. SrL, Italy
Indena, Italy
Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, France
Italfarmaco, Italy
Janssen-Cilag SpA, Italy
Kedrion SpA, Italy
Korpo, Italy
Lipogems International S.p.A
Medi Service srl
Mediterranea, Italy
NBMI Science Ltd (EmeraMed ltd)
NICOX, France
Novartis Farma SpA, Italy
Novuspharma, Italy
OPTIMAPHARM d.d.
Pierre Fabre Pharma SrL, Italy
Promefarm, Italy
QPS Austria – GmbH
Roche SpA, Italy
Serono Ind. Farmaceutica SpA, Italy
Sigma-Tau Ind. Farm. Riunite SpA, Italy
Softeco Sismat S.p.A., Italy
Tecnofarmaci – Società Consortile per Azioni – per lo Sviluppo della Ricerca Farmaceutica, Italy
UPMC Italy S.r.l.
Valeas, Italy