Reimagining FSP With ProPharma's RCO Model

Functional Service Providers (FSPs) emerged from the evolution of full-service and business-process outsourcing (FSO and BPO) to meet biopharma's growing need to fully outsource clinical operations. FSPs have proven to be a scalable solution, adept at navigating challenges like regulatory changes, economic pressures, and unforeseen events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now crucial in mitigating risks of delays in full-service projects.

However, early FSP models, developed within large CROs in the 1990s to counter low-cost BPO firms (e.g., Accenture, Cognizant), often lacked the context and capability to gain traction in a full-service-dominated industry. By the 2010s, as sponsor priorities shifted, FSPs became the answer to outsourcing non-core activities in drug development, allowing pharmaceutical companies to focus on key competitive areas.

This trend continues, with sponsors often engaging a mix of service providers and models driven by varied needs rather than a unified sourcing strategy. While some companies are adopting enterprise-wide sourcing strategies with preferred partnerships, a blend of FSP and full-service models still prevails across therapeutic areas, programs, and geographies.

ProPharma’s Research Consulting Organization (RCO) model is a strategic evolution from the traditional CRO model. Learn how you can leverage this approach to access customized, agile, and scalable solutions that continuously evolve to meet your unique needs by downloading the white paper below.