Synergyst Research Group / Discovery Clinical Trials has been ranked on the Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in the United States for the third year in a row, the magazine has announced.
The San Antonio-based company was 206th among health companies on the Inc. 500|5000 list and 20th among Texas health companies.
“We are thrilled to make the Inc. 500|5000 list again,” said Trudy Madan, CEO of Synergyst Research Group / Discovery Clinical Trials. “It’s the result of our dedication to a simple principle – helping people – that is the guiding force for everything we do.”
Synergyst Research is the administrative arm for physicians, sponsors and clinical research organizations, providing marketing, patient recruitment, and budgeting and contracting expertise.
Discovery Clinical Trials is a joint-venture partnership with independently owned research sites located primarily in Texas and Florida. The company manages daily operations, including human resources, finance, accounting, quality monitoring and patient recruitment services.
Research studies allow clinics to diversify practice revenue and assist in finding new treatments and cures for patients.
“In today’s world it is a distinct honor to enter into business ventures with people who are knowledgeable, honest and hardworking,” said Dr. Stephen Apaliski, an Arlington, Texas, allergy and asthma physician who has worked in partnership with Discovery Clinical Trials since 2009. “It has been my singular pleasure and good fortune to be associated such people at Synergyst Research over the past several years.
“The team has worked diligently in the pursuit of excellence, laying a strong base for continued success into the future.”
Synergyst Research Group/Discovery Clinical Trials participates in more than 150 research studies a year, and the company works with various size pharmaceutical companies including the some of the largest in the in the development of new treatments.
The privately held company employs approximately 50 people at its corporate office in San Antonio and within medical practices in Texas and Florida.
“Everyone at the company believes we are making a difference in people’s lives, now and in the future,” Madan said. “We’re helping bring lifesaving treatments to the market in the safest and fastest way possible. We’re helping people every day.”
Benefits of research studies
Whether patients are motivated by a desire to advance medical research, help others, receive treatment for themselves or receive possible compensation, Synergyst Research Group/Discovery Clinical Trials provides an opportunity to take part in important research within the confines of a physician’s office.
“Research is rewarding to those who take part in it,” Madan said. “The physician helps determine the future safety and efficacy of drugs, and research study patients can gain access to cutting-edge products before they become mainstream in the marketplace.”
Because of declines in insurance reimbursements, more and more physicians are searching for additional revenue to defray the costs of top-quality medical care. Research studies provide those opportunities.
What is a research study?
A research study is a comparison of an experimental medication or medical treatment with the standard treatment, another medication/treatment or placebo (an inactive lookalike pill). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration requires all pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to prove the safety and efficacy of the medications or treatments prior to receiving approval to sell their product in the public market place.
Research studies vary greatly in size depending on the phase of research. For pharmaceuticals, research studies are commonly classified into four phases:
- Phase I studies are the first stage of testing in human subjects and normally include a small (20-80) group of healthy volunteers.
- Phase II studies are performed on larger groups (20-300) and are designed to assess how well the drug works. These take place only after the initial safety of the study drug has been confirmed in Phase I trials.
- Phase III studies are randomized controlled multicenter trials on large patient groups (300–3,000 or more depending upon the disease/medical condition studied) and are aimed at being the definitive assessment of how effective the drug is, in comparison with current ‘gold standard’ treatment.
- Phase IV studies involve the safety surveillance and ongoing technical support of a drug after it receives permission to be sold.
Synergyst Research Group is a trial management organization that works with independently owned, multi-specialty medical groups as an “administrative arm,” providing study start services.
Synergyst Research 