“While the current economic crisis has not impacted the pharmaceutical industry as harshly as many other industries, it is adding pressure to a sector that is already facing a challenging new market reality,” says Klaus Hachmann, managing director for World Courier (Deutschland).

“Over the next five or so years, pharmaceutical companies will battle to maintain high growth rates despite substantial pressure from generic competition and the impending loss of major patents. Faced with a future that relies on bringing new drugs to market quickly, accurately and cost-effectively, outsourcing to developing nations has become a crucial part of their success formula. Our seminars are designed to provide insight into just this issue – conducting clinical trials in emerging markets, and successfully managing costs and logistics while ensuring the integrity of the research results.”

Accordingly, the World Courier bioseminar – to be held at the Maritim proArte Hotel in Berlin on Friday 30 October 2009 – will address such topics as the benefits of integrated electronic data processing in clinical trial applications; cold chain management and temperature-controlled logistics; clinical trial management in the emerging nations of Eastern Europe, China and India; security and trade facilitation in today’s global pharmaceutical market; and carbon footprint reduction. Over 350 senior pharmaceutical researchers and executives are expected to attend the event where they will join a distinguished cross-functional panel for an intense day of dialogue and networking.

“The global clinical trial industry topped an estimated US $50 billion in 2008,” says Mr Hachmann. “With clinical research being the most critical and expensive stage of drug development, our seminar will help pharmaceutical practitioners adapt their strategies and work practices to today’s economy and find practical ways forward in view of current industry challenges.”