Novartis partners with PHC on clinical research

MANILA, Philippines - Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish a Center of Excellence for Clinical Trials that aims to enhance the hospital’s capabilities in conducting and participating in clinical trials that adhere to international ethical standards.

“This innovative partnership combines the strengths of a world-renowned, research-driven biopharmaceutical company and the country’s premier cardiac institution,” said Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Jr., PHC executive director.

“Our partnership with PHC is in line with our company’s commitment to strengthen the country’s clinical research capabilities and enhance Philippine healthcare,” said Thomas Weigold, country president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

Leveraging its institutionalized R&D process, Novartis has extensive experience in conducting clinical research on a global scale. Thanks to its strong research thrust, it has one of the strongest and most productive pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry, with approximately 140 projects in clinical development, many of which are new molecular entities.

Novartis has a long-established track record of research productivity. During the last four years, it has received more approvals in the United States and Europe for new molecular entities than other pharmaceutical companies.

To date, Novartis has invested approximately P200 million ($4.6 million) in local clinical trials. In late 2008, Novartis officially included the Philippines in its International Clinical Research Operations (ICRO), allocating two clinical trials on hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus to the country.

Since then, Novartis has conducted 18 global trials in cardiovascular, respiratory, and integrated hospital care in the country, enrolling more than 800 patients in more than 60 sites.

In 2013, Novartis received the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) Eagle Award for outstanding leadership, professionalism, integrity, passion, and dedication to advancing the clinical research profession through strong site partnerships.

“Novartis currently has the most number of active clinical trials in the Philippines focused on cardiovascular indications,” said Dr. Francis Domingo, chief scientific officer of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

Since its establishment in 1975, the PHC has been providing compassionate and expert patient care through its state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained health care professionals. It also provides world-class education and training to residents, fellow and affiliates in the sub-specialties of cardiology and cardiovascular care and surgery.

The PHC has a robust clinical research program, including the conduct of research paper competitions, presentation in local and international conventions, publication in medical journals, and the conduct of research in cardiovascular care and surgery.

The PHC is the country’s only public hospital that underwent and passed the rigorous Qmentum International Accreditation program of Accreditation Canada International. Successful implementation of the accreditation program is evidence of a health care organization’s commitment to the highest standards of quality care, patient safety, and service delivery.

The PHC is the first local institution to be accredited by both the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board and the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in the Asian and Western Pacific.

Under the MOA, Novartis will prioritize PHC as a site for its clinical research projects that will be conducted in the Philippines while PHC will consider Novartis as a preferred research partner.

Clinical research activities will focus on the following areas: Good Clinical Practice (GCP), pharmacovigilance, biotechnology workshops (BioCamp), capacity building on clinical trial protocols review, research coordinators’ certification training, observational visits to clinical research centers in other countries, and innovative research.

To encourage innovation, Novartis will offer Research Coordinators Certification Training and Train the Trainers programs to PHC’s clinical trial team.

The PHC is the third major hospital in the country that Novartis Healthcare Philippines is collaborating with to enhance Philippine R&D. In 2013, the research-based healthcare company signed a MOA establishing a Center of Excellence for Clinical Trials with the St. Luke’s Medical Center and National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

“Through such synergistic collaborations, we aim to enhance the country’s clinical research capabilities and develop the Philippines as a R&D hub in the region,” said Christine Fajardo, corporate affairs and market access director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.