She may have been pushed into it, but in less than seven years after its founding, A10 Clinical Solutions Inc. (No. 100 on the be industrial/service companies list with $19.7 million in revenues) now ranks among the largest black-owned businesses in the U.S. And despite that stellar achievement, Brown, the company’s president and CEO, believes that the pharmaceutical industry will continue to fuel future growth.
A Growing Industry
Based in Cary, North Carolina, A10 Clinical Solutions, named black enterprise’s Emerging Company of the Year in 2008, has two lines of business. The first, its clinical trials management business, accounts for about 85% of A10’s revenues. Here, the company provides staff and oversees observational studies for pharmaceutical and biotech companies and government agencies. All drugs sold in the U.S. must go through a four-part clinical trials process, as mandated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Phase I: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people
for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase II: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it
is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase III: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm
its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.