--- title: Why Small Pharma Companies Rely on CROs and What They Expect description: Small pharma companies rely on CROs for expertise, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and strong communication in clinical trials. image: https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/Clinical%20Research_Baroldi_Blog%20Banner.jpg --- [![Logo PQE Group - azzurro - 2024](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20PQE%20Group%20-%20azzurro%20-%202024.png?width=2000&height=721&name=Logo%20PQE%20Group%20-%20azzurro%20-%202024.png "Logo PQE Group - azzurro - 2024")](https://www2.pqegroup.com) - [Home](https://www2.pqegroup.com/) - [Industry](https://www2.pqegroup.com/industry/) - [Pharma & API](https://www2.pqegroup.com/pharma-api/) - [Medical Device](https://www2.pqegroup.com/medical-device/) - [Biotech](https://www2.pqegroup.com/biotech/) - [Startup](https://www2.pqegroup.com/startup/) - [Veterinary](https://www2.pqegroup.com/veterinary/) - [Services](https://www2.pqegroup.com/services/) - [Data Integrity](https://www2.pqegroup.com/data-integrity/) - [Digital Governance](https://www2.pqegroup.com/digital-governance/) - [Engineering](https://www2.pqegroup.com/engineering/) - [Commissioning, Qualification and Validation (CQV)](https://www2.pqegroup.com/commissioning-qualification-validation/) - [Quality Compliance](https://www2.pqegroup.com/quality-compliance/) - [Laboratory Excellence](https://www2.pqegroup.com/laboratory-excellence/) - [Regulatory Affairs](https://www2.pqegroup.com/regulatory-affairs/) - [Audits](https://www2.pqegroup.com/audits/) - [Training](https://www2.pqegroup.com/training/) - [Clinical Research](https://www2.pqegroup.com/clinical-research-services/) - [Pharmacovigilance](https://www2.pqegroup.com/pharmacovigilance/) - About - [About Us](https://www2.pqegroup.com/about/) - [ESG](https://www2.pqegroup.com/about/csr/) - [Women in STEM](https://www2.pqegroup.com/about/women-in-stem/) - Resources - [News & Press](https://www2.pqegroup.com/news/) - [Webinars](https://www2.pqegroup.com/webinars/) - [Blog](https://blog.pqegroup.com/) - [Careers](https://www2.pqegroup.com/careers/) - [Contact Us](https://www2.pqegroup.com/contact-us/) ![](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/blank-user.png) Paolo Baroldi Chief Medical Officer at Bloom Science Inc., & Principal Consultant @PQE Group # **Why Small Pharma Companies Rely on CROs and What They Expect** [Clinical Research](https://blog.pqegroup.com/tag/clinical-research) Small pharmaceutical companies typically rely on Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) to provide specialized expertise, infrastructure, and operational support to help them successfully conduct clinical trial. Their expectations can be summarized as follows:  ## **1. Expertise and Guidance**  - **Regulatory Knowledge:** CROs should have deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape in the regions where the trials will be conducted, ensuring compliance with local and international standards.  - **Trial Design Expertise:** Assistance with designing efficient and scientifically robust protocols, and practical feasibility.  - **Therapeutic Area Expertise:** Familiarity with the specific therapeutic area or indication being studied.  ## **2. Cost-Effectiveness**  - Small companies often have limited budgets and expect CROs to deliver high-quality services within cost constraints.  - Transparent pricing models to avoid unexpected expenses.    ## **3. Flexibility**  - Small companies often face unexpected project- or company-related events that force them to slightly correct the route of the product development. A prompt, **GCP-compliant** response by the CRO is critically important.    ## **4. Personal Interactions and Emotional Intelligence**  - All companies use CROs in an effort to expand their internal resources, expecting to include the CRO’s assigned staff into the project team as **“colleagues,”** willing to share the same goals and motivations.  - An expert, emotionally intelligent, and communicative **CRO-assigned Project Manager** makes all the difference in the world. Based on **more than thirty years of experience**, this is by far the most important factor for a successful collaboration and excellent study performance.    For small pharmaceutical companies, partnering with a CRO is the most cost-effective and strategic way to navigate the complexities of clinical trials and regulations, given their limited in-house resources and budgets. While the relationship between both parties is often viewed as transactional, the reality of the matter is that successful collaborations between small pharmaceutical companies and CROs rely on trust, communication, and a shared commitment to the trial’s success.  These small organizations are therefore looking for more than just a team of experts to provide expertise, regulatory knowledge, and operational support; they are looking for a trusted partner that can function as an extension of their team, working in tandem toward a common goal. ![Clinical Research_Baroldi_Blog Banner](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clinical%20Research_Baroldi_Blog%20Banner.jpg?width=2000&name=Clinical%20Research_Baroldi_Blog%20Banner.jpg) ## Need Support with Clinical Research? We have developed a dedicated service just for you, to assist your business in the compliance and the operations related to clinical studies. Visit our dedicated page to [clinical research](https://www2.pqegroup.com/clinical-research-services/), and explore the entire scope of our service's. [Connect with us](https://www2.pqegroup.com/contact-us/) [Explore services](https://www2.pqegroup.com/clinical-research-services/) #### More on this topic [Clinical Research ![Orchestrating Innovation: Aligning Science, Strategy, and Market Success](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/Orchestrating%20Innovation_Blog%20(1)-1.webp)](https://blog.pqegroup.com/clinical-research/orchestrating-innovation-aligning-science-strategy-and-market-success) 02 Jul 2026 ## [Orchestrating Innovation: Aligning Science, Strategy, and Market Success The future of healthcare belongs to those who can turn innovation into impact. Read more.](https://blog.pqegroup.com/clinical-research/orchestrating-innovation-aligning-science-strategy-and-market-success) [Clinical Research ![How ICH E6 Revision 3 Is Redefining Our Understanding of Clinical Trials](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/BANNER-How%20ICH%20E6%20Revision%203%20%20Is%20Redefining%20Our%20Understanding%20%20of%20Clinical%20Trials%20_1_1_1.jpg)](https://blog.pqegroup.com/how-ich-e6-revision-3-is-redefining-our-understanding-of-clinical-trials) 10 Jun 2025 ## [How ICH E6 Revision 3 Is Redefining Our Understanding of Clinical Trials Discover how ICH E6(R3) is redefining clinical trials with a modern, flexible, and patient-centric approach](https://blog.pqegroup.com/how-ich-e6-revision-3-is-redefining-our-understanding-of-clinical-trials) [Clinical Research ![Are you already in compliance with ICH-GCP and EMA's Guideline on computerised systems?](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/ICH-GCP%20and%20EMAs%20Guideline_Esposito_Site%20Banner.jpg)](https://blog.pqegroup.com/clinical-studies/are-you-already-in-compliance-with-ich-gcp-and-emas-guideline-on-computerised-systems) 06 Feb 2024 ## [Are you already in compliance with ICH-GCP and EMA's Guideline on computerised systems? Learn how the new EMA guideline on computerised systems is shaping the future of clinical trials. Discover the challenges of electronic systems and the impact on data integrity. Contact us for clinical study support.](https://blog.pqegroup.com/clinical-studies/are-you-already-in-compliance-with-ich-gcp-and-emas-guideline-on-computerised-systems) ![new PQE logo white tagline](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/new%20PQE%20logo%20white%20tagline.png) ISO 9001 Certified compliance services provider since 1998.   ![Logo ISO 9001](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20ISO%209001.png?width=125&name=Logo%20ISO%209001.png)   - Discover PQE - [Work with PQE](https://www2.pqegroup.com/careers/) - [Locations](https://www2.pqegroup.com/contact-us/#locations) - [About](https://www2.pqegroup.com/about/) - [Blog](https://blog.pqegroup.com/) - Useful Links - [Privacy Notice](https://www2.pqegroup.com/privacy-notice/) - [Cookie Policy](https://www2.pqegroup.com/cookie-policy/) - [Model of Organization](https://www2.pqegroup.com/model-of-organization/) - [Ethical Code](https://www2.pqegroup.com/ethical-code/) English - [English](https://blog.pqegroup.com/clinical-research/why-small-pharma-companies-rely-on-cros-and-what-they-expect) - [日本語](https://blog.pqegroup.com/ja/clinical-research/why-small-pharma-companies-rely-on-cros-and-what-they-expect) CHANGE LANGUAGE Copyright **2024** | Proudly powered by **PQE Group Creative Team** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pqe-group) [![twitter](https://blog.pqegroup.com/hubfs/twitter-w.png) Twitter](https://twitter.com/PQEGroup) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/PQEGroup/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lifeatpqe) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/PQEGroup) [Xing](https://www.xing.com/pages/pqegroup)