Phase IV: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to
gather information on the drug’s effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
A10’s clinical trial management business is done in conjunction with phases II and III. Clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, and Amgen. A10 provides the technical resources, often clinical research associates and registered nurses, who work as members of the investigative team to assess and monitor the safety and efficacy as the drug is used by larger control groups.
Its second line of business manages healthcare clinics at large corporations. Within those clinics, A10 provides primary care, preventive care, and wellness programs. It also provides senior management with reports detailing the true health of the corporation. The sales pitch: If A10 can keep employees well, it helps clients’ bottom lines with regard to insurance premiums, productivity, and decreasing absenteeism. The company sees this area as a growth opportunity. “Clinical research is truly our engine, but our clinical care is taking off big time,†asserts Brown.
The pharmaceuticals industry is one of the few in the U.S. that has experienced growth in recent turbulent years. According to IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, a market research firm specializing in pharmaceuticals, the industry has grown 6.2% annually over the past five years. And while that growth is expected to slow to 3% to 6% over the next half decade, global sales are still expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2015. Much of the growth will be fueled by emerging markets, as IMS projects 17 such markets, led by China, will collectively contribute 28% of total spending by 2015. This compares with 12% in 2005.