SPE.L Regulatory News (SPE)

10 Oct 2007 07:01

Sopheon PLC10 October 2007 Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Wednesday 10 October 2007 Sopheon Plc ('Sopheon') Leading European Center for Clinical Trials Research Selects Sopheon's Accolade(R) System The University Medical Center Utrecht Enhances Processes and Strengthens Position in Rapidly Expanding Trials Outsourcing Market Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today thatthe University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, represented by its division theJulius Center, has selected Sopheon's Accolade product life cycle managementsystem to support its processes for conducting trials. Julius' research programis comprised of initiatives sponsored by leading pharmaceutical companies,universities and the government, including clinical investigations that involveother UMC divisions. Pharmaceutical companies are expected to increase spending for outsourced R&Dservices by almost 15% annually for the next five years. The core of thistrend is the outsourcing of clinical development, which more and morepharmaceutical executives see as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency.The outsourced model also makes it possible to complete trials more quickly.The global growth in demand for outsourced clinical trial services is fuelingnew levels of business opportunity for independent research operations such asthe Julius Center. Julius is a particularly attractive alternative because ithas unique competencies in the management of complex, global clinical trialsinvolving multiple medical centers. More than 2,000 clinical trials are completed across UMC Utrecht each year, andJulius conducts or oversees a large portion of these investigations. Theadoption of Accolade will help the organization handle a steadily growing volumeof trial activity. Accolade provides an automated process structure that willenable the Center's research and program management staff to accelerate trialpreparation and execution. The system's data protection and managementcapabilities will contribute to ensuring trial security and quality, andfacilitate more efficient collaboration among researchers. Implementation ofthe system will also support compliance with European GCP (Good ClinicalPractice) directives for clinical trial execution. "As acceptance of the outsourced model for clinical trials management hasincreased among public and private organizations, our project pipeline hasbecome deeper and more complicated," said Robert Veen, data management managerfor the Julius Center. "Our deployment of Accolade has allowed us to takeproject data previously recorded and stored on isolated tools like spreadsheets,and consolidate them in a single, easily accessed repository. The flexibilityof the Accolade system, reflected in the fact that we can configure it on ourown, provides us with a platform that can accommodate multiple processes and anearly limitless range of specific process requirements. Accolade gives usconfidence that our trials will be executed consistently and with the kind ofrigorous quality control that will ensure the accuracy and reliability of theiroutcomes. Sopheon's solution will allow us to take the professionalization ofour research processes to a whole new level." "The University Medical Center Utrecht is an international symbol of excellencein scientific research and education," said Huub Rutten, Sopheon's vicepresident of research and development. "Their clinical trial operations are,like Sopheon and Accolade, focused on helping organizations get better productsto market faster. They have built their success on quality performance and anabiding commitment to the pursuit of best practices. We are proud to be able tocontribute even indirectly to the invention of the important new medicines andtreatments that result from their efforts." - Ends - Accolade(R) is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. About Julius Center Founded in 1996, the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care is partof the University Medical Center Utrecht. It carries out scientific research,provides education, and offers expertise and facilities in the area of clinicalhealth sciences, specializing in epidemiology, public health, general practice,nursing, dietary science, and medical technology assessment. The center has aleading and acquisitive position in the enlargement and dissemination ofknowledge, especially in the field of health sciences. This is done by means ofgroundbreaking research and by the provision of courses for researchers andclinicians. For more information, please visit the research section atwww.umcutrecht.nl About Sopheon Sopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of software and services thathelp organizations improve the business impact of product innovation. Sopheon'sAccolade system automates and governs the innovation process, enabling companiesto increase revenue and profits from new products. Sopheon is listed on the AIMMarket of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands. Formore information, please visit www.sopheon.com For further information contact: Barry Mence, Chairman Sopheon plc Tel : + 44 (0) 1483 685 735Arif Karimjee, CFOAndrew Tan Hansard Tel : + 44 (0) 207 245 1100 + 44 (0) 7957 203 685Floor van Maaren Citigate First Financial Tel : + 31 (0) 205 754 010 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange