In an interview with ACT Associate Editor Don Tracy, Peter Ronco, CEO, Emmes, discusses the "Choosing the Right Allies: Ensuring Clinical Trial Success for Small Biopharma" session.
ACT: Today, you were a part of the Choosing the Right Allies: Ensuring Clinical Trial Success for Small Biopharma session. Can you provide a brief synopsis of what the session entailed?
Ronco: When we kicked off this morning, Andy Lee spoke in the main session about how he has leveraged Merck and their clinical trial development group to execute a portfolio of work. That model works well for Merck—they have the money and resources. However, many mid-sized and small biotechs don’t have that level of funding and can’t afford to hire thousands of CROs.
This morning, we discussed the rules of engagement: how small biotechs should approach outsourcing, select the right providers, and build successful partnerships.
ACT: What are the key criteria small biopharma companies should prioritize when selecting a clinical trial partner?
Ronco: During the session, I outlined seven key rules to consider when engaging with a partner. One example is what I call the Goldilocks principle—you want a partner that is big enough to run your program, with a presence in key countries and all necessary capabilities, but small enough to provide the care and attention a small biotech deserves. It’s about finding that middle ground.
Another crucial factor is transparency around financial constraints. Many biotechs aren’t necessarily aiming to bring a product to market immediately; they’re focused on generating proof-of-concept data or advancing to the end of Phase II to secure additional funding or licensing deals. Engaging with partners upfront to ensure they understand these goals is essential.
Click here to read more and see the interview video.