KKR-backed Headlands Research Inks Deal for Fifth Trial Site in Partnership with Pfizer: Target Diversification of Clinical Trials

Can pharmaceutical sponsors partner directly with trial sites to accelerate clinical trials patient enrollment?  Yes, although increasingly contact research organizations (CROs) outsource much of the research on behalf of the pharmaceutical sponsor, and hence take on the role of site identification and qualification and sign-up Pfizer and private equity backed mega trial site network Headlands Research as TrialSite reported inked their first deal to establish a trial site on the U.S. side of the Mexican border in Brownsville, Texas. The aim of that deal was to jointly establish a site to recruit more Hispanic/Latino patients/participants in research.  The two didn’t stop in Brownsville and now Pfizer and Headlands Research, which describes itself as a leading multinational network of clinical trial sites, announced the fifth trial site, Headlands Research Orlando, as part of this partnership with Pfizer to create multiple clinical trial sites in diverse regions.  The aim: diversify clinical trials participation.  TrialSite urged a cautionary note however about this class of deal. Often racial and ethnic minorities face more challenging economic conditions and associated social determinants of health factors impacting health care.  The ethics of targeting this group to participate in research remains sensitive, and many would feel that only a community physician in a care setting should be recommending research.

TrialSite not surprisingly is a media company dedicated to tracking the business affairs, scientific breakthroughs, operations and trends in the trial site, a location that has been approved by regulators and research sponsors to conduct a clinical trial.  Clinical trial facilities are controlled environments that are overseen by expert clinicians. They are needed to: verify claims, Understand and prove what is safe and effective, Teach advancements to the physicians and technicians that will administer them, and Understand best practices.