QED Clinical Services, a global niche CRO operating, is launching OrphanReach, a division to develop drugs in rare disease areas.

OrphanReach will capitalize on QED’s global infrastructure, while employing a flexible, adaptive approach, providing a good fit with orphan drug development needs.

"We can clearly see a strong industry trend for orphan drug development activities,” said Thomas Ogorka, CEO of QED. “Any company developing drugs for orphan indications needs a service provider who can not only offer tailor-made solutions in a very effective and attentive way, but also has access to these rare patient populations no matter where in the world.”

Ogorka continued, “QED's new OrphanReach division offers our sponsors exactly that: a lean management structure with excellent client attention and at the same time the global reach element which one would have thought only the largest CROs can provide. QED is a good example that an innovative operational model can work perfectly well in combination with niche areas like the development of orphan and rare disease drugs thus providing sponsors with a powerful CRO alternative."