WCG Announces Acquisition of Analgesic Solutions

The WIRB-Copernicus Group’s (WCG) Clinical Services Division announces the acquisition of Analgesic Solutions, LLC. Analgesic Solutions joins the extensive family of WCG clinical services which facilitate and optimize the conduct of clinical trials. WCG’s newest addition focuses on increasing assay sensitivity in clinical trials through consulting, innovative tools, data science, technology and specialized training. 

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nathaniel Katz, the Founder and Chief Scientist of Analgesic Solutions, and his extraordinary team of clinicians and scientists to WCG,” said Donald A. Deieso, PhD, Executive Chairman and CEO of WCG. “The intense public focus on developing alternatives to opioids for use in pain management, as well the organization’s deep understanding of patients’ subjective responses to pain, has made Analgesic Solutions one of the most sought-after solution providers in clinical research.”

“We are very pleased to join WCG – an organization which shares our values, our purpose, and above all, our commitment to scientific integrity,” said Nathaniel Katz, MD, MS, Founder and Chief Science Officer, Analgesic Solutions. “What excites us most about collaborating with our colleagues at WCG is helping biopharmaceutical sponsors to accelerate the development of pain-reducing therapies by improving the quality of clinical research in this area.”

Laying the foundation for successful clinical research trials, Analgesic Solutions advises research sponsors on protocol design and development, regulatory and FDA submissions, and signal to noise optimization. Combining deep subject matter expertise with unmatched experience in data quality risk assessment, measurement error reduction, and data surveillance, Analgesic Solutions provides knowledge-based solutions that inform the conduct of clinical trials in which the measurement of pain is an endpoint or significant component. Since pain is a subjective experience, Analgesic Solutions teaches patients how to better describe their pain and clinicians how to better evaluate their descriptions. The company also provides central statistical monitoring and interventions to ensure that data produced and collected during trials are reliable and accurate with the goal of proactively protecting study outcomes.

“Together with WCG’s MedAvante-ProPhase service line, Analgesic Solutions encompasses a comprehensive view of the subjective responses of patients in clinical trials,” said Dr. Jeffrey S. Litwin, Chief Operating Officer of WCG. “Our protocol design expertise and proven methods for decreasing subjectivity help sponsors avoid creating conditions in which a good drug might fail, or in which patients might be treated longer than necessary with a drug that simply doesn’t work. Our clients save time and money by determining - more quickly and clearly - whether a drug is effective or not.”

In collaboration with the FDA-ACTTION initiative to fill a need for standardized approaches to quantifying potential abuse in clinical trials, Analgesic Solutions developed MADDERS (Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion Drug Event Reporting System), the first standardized system for classifying and quantifying abuse-related events in clinical trials. With applications that extend beyond the field of pain management, MADDERS can be used in the trial of any drug that crosses the blood-brain barrier (and therefore holds the potential for addiction).

“The quest to combat the misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals and to uncover effective pain management alternatives has brought many new players to the space,” added Robert Newman, CEO of Analgesic Solutions. “What they are finding is that these types of trials have their own unique challenges and are, in fact, quite difficult to conduct. We are proud to support newcomers, as well as our old friends, with the clinical and scientific expertise they need to conduct successful trials and offer renewed hope to those suffering from chronic pain and other debilitating diseases around the world.”

Like WCG’s previous acquisitions, Analgesic Solutions will continue to operate independently and retain its headquarters in Wayland, MA. WCG will provide Analgesic Solutions with access to capital, expertise and corporate operational support.

For more information, please visit www.wcgclinical.com