Orexa
When Food Intake Becomes Part of the Treatment
Prof. Dr Ard Peeters, Founder, CEO and CSO
Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Development Solutions in Europe
Clinical-stage pharmaceutical and therapeutic development solutions help life sciences companies advance drug candidates through structured research and trial preparation. With a focus on clinical planning, regulatory readiness, therapeutic validation and development strategy, they support stronger evidence generation and more reliable treatment advancement.
Solutions
While leading antidepressant drug development at Merck in the Netherlands, Prof. Dr Ard Peeters, founder, CEO and CSO of Orexa, repeatedly saw patients gain weight during treatment. The effect was well recognised but generally treated as an unwanted side effect. Peeters became interested in this: what biological mechanism was responsible for it? If that mechanism could increase food intake, could it also help patients who needed to eat more?
State of Industry
Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical Development Gains Momentum across Europe
Advancements in drug development are encouraging pharmaceutical organisations in Europe to strengthen their focus on research-driven therapeutic approaches and specialised treatment platforms. Clinical stage pharmaceutical and therapeutics develops solutions that aid in the progression of promising drug candidates through key development phases while solving complex medical needs across targeted therapeutic areas.
Deep Dive
Advancing Nutritional Recovery through Local Therapy
Delayed return to eating after major surgery can turn a planned recovery window into extended hospitalisation. Gastrointestinal dysfunction adds discomfort, delays bowel function, increases readmission risk and keeps scarce beds occupied. Failure to restart oral intake can also complicate discharge planning and prompt avoidable nutrition support. Clinical-stage therapies aimed at nutritional recovery must therefore do more than stimulate appetite in theory. They need a defined biological target and trial endpoints that reflect what matters after surgery, including food intake and the return of gastrointestinal function.
Leadership Perspective
SIFI
Driving Innovation in Clinical Development: Strategies, Challenges, and the Future
Laura Bonino, Head of Clinical Development
From Biotechnology Student to Clinical Development Leader
My background is in medical and molecular biotechnology, and my dream as a student was to work in a pharmaceutical company, helping patients struggling with incurable diseases. My first experience was in a preclinical lab at a dynamic startup in Milan, which focused on oncology studies. As soon as I was introduced to clinical research, I fell in love with the field and transitioned into clinical operations, working in oncology, respiratory diseases and now ophthalmology. I have worked in various roles in clinical research: first, as a Clinical Research Associate, then I began dealing with Clinical Trial Supplies, ensuring they matched the clinical study design, clinical operations needs and CMC constraints. Later, I took on the role of Clinical Project Manager, where I managed clinical studies and projects at different levels.
Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Development Solutions in Europe Info
Q1
What Do Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe Provide?
Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe support the progression of drug candidates from early clinical research toward later-stage development and regulatory readiness. Their scope can include clinical strategy, trial planning, patient recruitment, clinical operations, data management, safety assessment and regulatory support. Depending on the development program, these solutions may also address biologics, small-molecule medicines, targeted therapies and advanced therapeutic modalities. The goal is to generate reliable evidence while keeping development activities aligned with scientific, clinical and regulatory requirements.
Q2
What Services Are Included In Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical Development?
Clinical-stage pharmaceutical development can involve several connected activities rather than a single service. Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe may support protocol development, study design, site selection, investigator coordination, patient enrollment, monitoring, data collection and clinical reporting. Regulatory planning is also important, particularly when programs involve multiple European jurisdictions. Strong development support connects these activities so that scientific decisions, operational execution and regulatory expectations remain aligned throughout the clinical program.
Q3
Why Is Demand Growing For Clinical-Stage Therapeutics Development In Europe?
Demand is being supported by increasingly complex drug candidates, growing interest in precision medicine and the need to advance promising therapies through clinical testing efficiently. Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe can help development teams manage this complexity while accessing established research infrastructure and specialist expertise. Demand is also influenced by the rise of smaller biotechnology companies that may have strong scientific programs but need external capabilities for clinical execution, regulatory planning and development operations.
Q4
How Are Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical And Therapeutics Development Solutions Evaluated?
Evaluation should consider scientific expertise, clinical development experience, regulatory knowledge, operational capabilities and the quality of evidence generated across a program. Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe should demonstrate an ability to manage study complexity, maintain data quality and adapt development plans as evidence emerges. Sponsors may also assess therapeutic-area knowledge, investigator networks, patient access, technology infrastructure, communication practices and experience working across European regulatory environments.
Q5
What Value Do Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical And Therapeutics Development Solutions Create?
The value extends beyond completing individual clinical activities. Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe can help reduce operational delays, strengthen evidence quality and support better-informed decisions about a therapy's future. Well-planned development can also improve patient recruitment and retention, strengthen regulatory submissions and reduce avoidable inefficiencies. For therapies addressing significant unmet needs, disciplined clinical development is essential to determine whether scientific potential can translate into meaningful patient outcomes.
Q6
What Role Do Innovation And Expertise Play In Clinical-Stage Therapeutics Development?
Innovation increasingly affects how clinical-stage therapies are designed, tested and evaluated. Top Clinical-Stage Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Development Solutions in Europe may use advanced data systems, biomarker strategies, adaptive trial approaches and other technologies to improve clinical decision-making. Expertise remains equally important because technology must operate within scientific and regulatory frameworks. Effective development teams combine specialized knowledge with practical trial experience to respond to changing evidence, complex protocols and evolving requirements while maintaining patient safety and data integrity.
