eResearchTechnology (eRT) bought the centralized electrocardiogram business of Covance. The two firms signed an exclusive ten-year marketing agreement in which eRT’s centralized cardiac safety services will be used by Covance clients. “eRT is furthering its commitment as a leader in the cardiac safety field. The scale, expertise, and ancillary technology benefits that will be derived from the acquisition will allow us to provide better and more cost-effective services to our valued clients,” said Michael McKelvey, president and CEO of eRT. Added Joe Herring, chairman and CEO of Covance: “Under the new marketing arrangement, we believe our clients will benefit from eRT’s industry-leading centralized ECG services. The transaction also allows Covance’s management team to focus more attention on growing our service offerings in the larger markets we serve.”

PHT, a technology firm specializing in electronic patient diaries, named Ian McLeod as Vice President of Development, and promoted Sheila Rocchio to VP of Marketing. McLeod and Rocchio are based at PHT’s U.S. headquarters in Boston, Mass. and report directly to PHT President and CEO Phil Lee. McLeod previously was a Vice President at Borland Software, where he led the integration of Segue Software.

The Bush administration plans to loosen the rules around off-label prescribing, according to a Congressional critic of the industry. The change: allowing industry to send doctors peer-reviewed articles delineating off-label uses for drugs. Henry Waxman of California he’s asking the FDA for more information about the change and the process that created it. Here’s a link to the pre-publication version of the draft guidance. This is a Washington Post story on the topic.

Bruce J. Hillman, chief scientific officer of contract research organization (CRO) ACR Image Metrix was named outstanding researcher by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The RSNA Outstanding Researcher Award honors individuals who make original and significant contributions to the field of radiology or radiologic sciences throughout a career of research. ACR Image Metrix General Manager Mike Morales, said: “His contributions to medicine and accomplishments on behalf of patients are outstanding and far reaching.”

Electronic data capture firm OmniComm Systems said it will provide technology to Tissue Repair Company for a clinical trial studying non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. Barbara Sosnowski, vice president of operations for Tissue Repair Company, said: “We chose to use EDC and specifically [OmniComm] TrialMaster in this study for the innate benefits that EDC provides such as ease of use, better access to the data, shorter study timelines and quicker study completion.”

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