Data analytics enabled FSP solutions

The decision to outsource via Functional Service Provision (FSP) versus Full Service Outsourcing (FSO) provides pharma and biotech greater control over clinical trial execution. Traditionally, FSP outsourcing has limited pharma access to the full expertise and capabilities of their CRO partners. ICON changing this paradigm through data enabled FSP solutions.

To improve the delivery of clinical trials, ICON created an independent data analytics and reporting function. The process, methodology and analytics, aggregated across multiple data sources, provides the decision-making foundation for reducing cycle times, while increasing productivity, efficiency and quality.

This case study provides an example of how our CRO data analytics expertise was externalised to a global, multi-vendor FSP client environment, to deliver these results.

ICON’s client worked in a global, multi-vendor FSP outsourcing model for clinical monitoring services. The client did not have the capability to aggregate and analyse data internally and across FSP providers. This inability to centralise measurement and reporting of performance resulted in an inability to improve performance.

ICON proposed to embed our data analytics capabilities within the client environment, providing reports and insights globally to client stakeholders and all FSP vendor partners. The client objective included reducing costs by 17% across three years via the following components:

ICON began by applying our extensive data aggregation and analytical knowledge to the client environment. We assigned an independent data analyst from our Data & Applied Analytics (DAA) team, reporting directly to client senior leadership. Leveraging our own data analytics roadmap, ICON implemented a client embedded solution, including:

1. Establish a clear set of global metrics and KPIs, benchmarked against client FSP performance, ICON internal performance and industry standard
2. Assess the client data infrastructure, including data warehouse, curation, reporting and insights
3. Produce and distribute monthly, global metrics and KPI data sets
4. Using data insights - drill down into operational process to drive improvements and efficiencies
5. Deploy a suite of predictive analytics, enabling decisions

Within 6 months of embedding data analytics capabilities within an FSP partnership, ICON has successfully enabled our client to achieve the following outcomes across all FSP providers.