etrials announced a new, unified way for users to log into and view three clinical systems. The new portal shows data from the firm's systems for electronic data capture; randomization and drug supply; and patient diaries. The company is also showing new patient diaries. One (the drop-proof Pidion BM-150R) is exclusively available through etrials. Here's a release.

Troubled contract research organization (CRO) Encorium is selling its U.S. operations to Italian CRO Pierrel. Just a week before this deal started to come together in May, Encorium announced that it had a non-binding letter of intent from a different “full-service internationally based contract research organization” that wanted to buy its U.S. operations. But that was terminated. At the same time, Encorium said it was in the midst of selling off its Finnish subsidiary, Encorium Oy. Encorium has been having a bad time of it since last year when a big drop in revenue forced it to cancel its purchase of oncology CRO Prologue Research International. Following that, there was an executive shuffle. In the most recent quarter, Encorium saw revenues drop 15 percent. The sale to Pierrel is expected to close June 30. Here is a release.

The contract research organization Synteract will open a Central-Eastern European office in Prague, Czech Republic, in August. CEO Ellen Morgan says Synteract is responding to requests from clients to expand internationally. “Our goal is to provide our clients with the same flexibility, guidance and responsive service for their multinational trials that they have become accustomed to when working with us domestically,” she says. Fourteen-year-old Synteract is based in Carlsbad, Ca., and has an office in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Here is a release.

Synta Pharmaceuticals has a new senior VP and chief medical officer. It's Vojo Vukovic, who was promoted from VP of clinical research there after Eric Jacobson stepped down. Prior to Synta, Vukovic was global medical lead for Sutent and axitinib in a number of cancer indications at Pfizer. “In addition to his clinical experience, Vojo’s research background in tumor biology will be an important advantage in advancing the translational science aspects of each of our programs,” says Safi Bahcall, Synta's president and CEO. Synta focuses on small molecules for cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Here is a release about Vukovic's promotion.

Drug safety firm Aris Global announced its new electronic data capture system. It used its own clinical trial management chops and had a bit of help from Infermed. The new software promises easier reconciliation than is possible when using separate systems for electronic data capture (EDC) and adverse-event management. Said Aris Global's Simon Sparkes, VP of corporate strategy and marketing: “With this offering, companies benefit from having a proven EDC solution that has been deployed worldwide in hundreds of sites and studies, is interoperable with third-party clinical and pharmacovigilance systems, and is backed by the stability, leadership and responsive support that Aris Global has been delivering for more than 20 years.” Here's a release.

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