Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
(
MDRX
), a leading player in the health care information technology
(HCIT) market, recently entered into a strategic partnership with
biopharmaceutical service provider Quintiles. Allscripts and
Quintiles plan to collectively develop software solutions to
improve the drug development process and demonstrate the empirical
worth of biopharmaceutical products.
The agreement marks yet another joint activity by the two
companies. In an industry where medical errors and safety issues
are of prime concern, Quintiles' expertise with data intelligence
and trial services are expected to add value to Allscripts clinical
analyses as well as enhance patient outcomes.
The partnership is expected to benefit biopharmaceutical
companies, providers, patients and payers. According to Allscripts,
the partnership will fasten the commercialization of new drugs and
discoveries to improve standard of patient care.
Allscripts and Quintiles will develop relevant products to
adequately reduce factors that hinder clinical research, analysis,
outcomes, education and proof of new compound safety, effectiveness
and value. The focus will also be on late-phase research,
recruiting for and monitor of clinical studies and post-market
surveillance. A post-market surveillance for newly developed drugs
is soon expected to become an increasingly common requirement.
Management at Quintiles is enthused about its alliance with
Allscripts. Quintiles reasserted its commitment towards steps
needed to eliminate industry specific bottlenecks with this
partnership.
The data intelligence available at Quintiles can accelerate the
process of drug development. Consequently, the partnership is
expected to allow consumers to leverage de-identified longitudinal
data from various sources in a manner which is aligned with the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA). The HIPAA-compliant data will be of further use to peer
group companies as it can endow other companies with information
required to improve efficiency and evaluation associated with drug
development.
The HCIT market remains competitive and price sensitive. Among
others, Allscripts faces strong competition from
Cerner Corp.
(
CERN
),
Quality Systems
(
QSII
) and
Athenahealth
(
ATHN
).
However, optimism about the growth prospects of select HCIT
service providers remains high under the Obama Administration. It
has passed the stimulus package in May 2009, aimed at increasing
the use of Electronic Health Record systems by medical
practitioners.
The strategic alliance to exploit available research
opportunities has long been overdue on the part of Allscripts. A
faster and efficient drug development process will benefit everyone
associated with the industry. This also marks a milestone in
rendering new forms of clinical information collected from
Electronic Health Records to enhance patient care.
We have a long-term "Neutral" recommendation on Allscripts. The
stock currently retains a Zacks #4 Rank, which translates into a
short-term Sell rating.
ATHENAHEALTH IN (ATHN): Free Stock Analysis
Report
CERNER CORP (CERN): Free Stock Analysis Report
ALLSCRIPTS HLTH (MDRX): Free Stock Analysis
Report
QUALITY SYS (QSII): Free Stock Analysis Report
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