PPD Launches PPD DirectConnect(TM), Unique Secured Client Web Portal For Clinical Trial Project Management
PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) today launched PPD DirectConnect(TM), a customizable suite of secure, Web-based project management tools, giving clients online access to the latest data from their clinical trials.
Through the PPD DirectConnect platform, PPD can now offer clients a secured Web site tailored to their specifications that lets them closely monitor trial progress through online, print-ready project status reports. In addition, clients can review draft deliverables, reports and submission documents online, thus expediting the overall study process. PPD DirectConnect users also can download project data files at their convenience using a secure file transfer site.
During its development with clients, the PPD DirectConnect technology was used by more than 350 client project team members across 20 PPD managed clinical trials from a cross-section of ethical and generic pharmaceutical companies as well as biotechnology firms.
"Client-tested and client-honed, PPD DirectConnect is now available to help us work more closely with all of our development services clients," said Fred Eshelman, chief executive officer with PPD. "As the first component in our e-clinical trials initiative, PPD DirectConnect supports our overall goal of strengthening client partnerships while improving the speed and quality of clinical trials."
PPD DirectConnect offers immediate access to data from specific studies, including current trial results, medical reports, approved trial protocols and case report forms. In addition, clients can view standard information across studies such as standard operating procedures and requests for proposals, bids and contracts. To facilitate communications, each client Web portal also includes a profile of project team members with contact information and direct e-mail links.
According to Liz Rolison, PPD's vice president of Informatics, feedback from clients who used the PPD DirectConnect platform during its initial development convinced the company that all PPD customers could benefit from the technology.
"Individually and as a group, clients have praised the product for its ease of use, flexibility and power to streamline the study process," said Rolison.
Rolison emphasized that PPD DirectConnect offers PPD clients a wide array of features and options that are customized to suit individual parameters. "On top of the standard offering, clients select the specific functions they want and we build the site according to their specifications," she said. Rolison noted that PPD is continuing to expand and refine the PPD DirectConnect suite based on client input.
PPD DirectConnect requires no additional software or technology upgrades because it is designed to work with all major commercially available Web browsers, including those offered by Microsoft and Netscape. Clients access their PPD DirectConnect Web portal on a secure extranet site residing on a dedicated server that sits inside the PPD firewall but outside of PPD's internal network. PPD DirectConnect offers secured access using SSL (Secured Socket Layer) protocol for encryption and security authorization.
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