Sharp HealthCare Secures Expanded Role in Development of New Medicines with Designation as a Quintiles Prime Site

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharp HealthCare was recently designated as a Quintiles Prime Site, a distinction that gives Sharp's medical facilities an enhanced role in global clinical research and the development of new and more effective medicines. Sharp is one of a small group of elite sites spread across Europe, Africa and Asia.

As a Prime Site, Sharp has the opportunity to be first in line for access to new industry-sponsored clinical trials available through Quintiles, a global research firm that forms partnerships with large hospitals and health systems capable of enrolling hundreds of clinical trial patients each year on behalf of major biopharmaceutical companies. The therapeutic areas that Quintiles anticipates Sharp to be heavily involved in include cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatry, rheumatology and vaccines.

"We are honored to receive this opportunity from Quintiles, which undertakes more clinical research than any other organization," said Mike Murphy, President and CEO of Sharp HealthCare. "This designation will support Sharp's thriving research agenda and allow us to make a more meaningful contribution to the future of medicine."

According to DeAnn Cary, Ph.D., Sharp's Director of Research, Quintiles will draw patients from Sharp's four acute care hospitals, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital; two of Sharp's specialty hospitals, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns and Sharp Mesa Vista (behavioral health, chemical dependency and substance abuse treatment); and Sharp's affiliated medical groups, Sharp Rees-Stealy and Sharp Community Medical Group.

Combined, these facilities see more than 800,000 patients each year, logging more than 3 million patient interactions. Research participants will come from the general community as well.

"In this era of New Health, there is significant pressure to speed the drug development process in order to develop treatments that enable people to live healthier lives," said Lisa Becker, VP & Global Head of Integrated Patient & Site Strategies. "We are proud to be working with the team at Sharp HealthCare to further enhance our ability to recruit patients and investigators who are critical to an efficient and effective drug development process. With the enthusiasm and vision for this model that our Sharp HealthCare partner has shown, we are confident that this will serve as a strong foundation for future collaboration."

About Sharp HealthCare

Recently selected as one of 32 Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and a 2007 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, Sharp HealthCare is San Diego's most comprehensive health care delivery system.  It is recognized for clinical excellence for services in cardiac, cancer and multiorgan transplantation, as well as orthopedics, rehabilitation, behavioral health and women's health. Sharp HealthCare has been widely acclaimed for its commitment to transform the health care experience for patients, physicians and staff through an organization-wide performance improvement initiative called The Sharp Experience. The Sharp system includes four acute-care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, two affiliated medical groups and a health plan. To learn more about Sharp, visit www.sharp.com.

About Quintiles

Quintiles is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical services company offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital solutions worldwide. The Quintiles network of more than 20,000 engaged professionals in 60 countries works with an unwavering commitment to patients, safety and ethics. Quintiles helps biopharmaceutical companies navigate risk and seize opportunities in an environment where change is constant. For more information, please visit www.quintiles.com.

SOURCE Sharp HealthCare