UNITED BIOSOURCE CORPORATION ACQUIRES CONCORDANT RATER SYSTEMS

United BioSource Corporation (UBC) recently acquired Concordant Rater Systems (CRS), a privately held Boston-based technology and research company, an acquisition that will further expand UBC’s clinical research capabilities. Founded in 2001, CRS develops and manages technology that provides drug developers with validated systems for monitoring the reliability, accuracy, and competency of clinical investigators and research sites on a real-time basis. The patented methodologies also enhance measurement precision of subjective endpoints in clinical trials.

“CRS technology is a perfect complement to UBC’s data quality solutions, which include real-time surveillance of clinical data to maximize the efficiency and integrity of clinical research,” said Catherine Spear, Senior Vice President, UBC. “The integration of the CRS application with our rater training, data quality, and computerized cognitive testing services provides sponsors with an unmatched portfolio of products designed to improve measurement precision in clinical trials.”

Quality of life assessments are subjective research endpoints provided by patients that are, by nature, more difficult to measure precisely. The ability to provide precise assessments and ensure clinical consistency across multi-site, global development programs that include subjective endpoints is particularly relevant for studies of therapies that target the central nervous system (CNS). This includes therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, as well as drugs to treat pain, sedatives, and anticonvulsants.

CRS provides a cost-effective and scalable platform that enables many users to enroll clinical trial participants and assess variability across clinical investigators and study sites. This cutting edge technology addresses critical challenges in the drug development process and expands both organizations’ ability to provide the safest, most effective therapies for patients.

Concordant Rater Systems founder Gary Sachs, M.D. noted that the transaction will help accelerate product development initiatives and global expansion, as well as increase the empirical science needed to improve clinical research. “We have collaborated with UBC on projects and appreciate first-hand the symmetry in our methodologies, science, and commitment to client service,” said Sachs, “We look forward to integrating the CRS product suite with UBC and providing sponsors with effective solutions for standardizing the administration of clinically subjective outcome measures.”

To learn more about UBC, please visit www.unitedbiosource.com.