etrials announced quarterly earnings. The clinical trial technology suite reported a loss and net service revenues that dropped 7 percent, to $4.1 million. Positive trends included $4.9 million in new bookings. Cancellations during the quarter fell to just $200,000 vs. $4.4 million in the same period in 2006. Nine-month revenue trends were also upward. President and CEO Chip Jennings told financial analysts that the ship was being turned around. Customer surveys, he said, indicated a turning point. “The percentage of satisfied clients now exceeds our initial targets. Repeat projects from existing clients doubled from a year ago. Our customers are starting to see early signs of what our capabilities will become,” Jennings said. The company is targeting the “middle” tier of the electronic data capture market.

Cerebricon, a contract research organization, has joined the Laboratory Outsource Network. Contract Laboratory is a specialized provider of web-based products and information services for better facilitation of laboratory outsourcing and procurement services. ContractLaboratory.com is a premier Laboratory Outsource Network offering extensive search and database capabilities to facilitate the laboratory outsourcing procurement processes.

Charles River Laboratories announced the promotions of three industry veterans. Brian Bathgate becomes corporate senior vice president and president, European preclinical services. Jorg Geller was named corporate senior vice president, Japanese operations and global large research model and avian operations. Christopher Perkin will be corporate senior vice president and president, Canadian preclinical services. James C. Foster, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Charles River, said: “The managerial expertise and impressive track records of Brian, Jorg and Chris have played an integral role in our company’s growth and success. Their ability to anticipate and exceed customer expectations enables us to remain steadfast in our commitment to providing superior products and services.”

PharmaNet Development Group, announced that on October 22, 2007, Jack Levine resigned as chairman and member of the board of directors and David Lucking resigned as a member of the board of directors. As a result, the board of directors has appointed Peter Tombros, currently an independent member of the board, as chairman. In addition, David Natan, executive vice president of reporting and analysis and chief accounting officer, and PharmaNet, agreed to a mutual separation.

Stora Enso has introduced an intelligent packaging solution for pharmaceuticals. Stora Enso Pharma DDSi is a compliance-monitoring solution based on a new carton with an embedded microchip. The solution is supported by Stora Enso’s PackAgent software, which enables compliance monitoring as well as authentication, tracking and tracing of products. Ismo Saarinen, director, Stora Enso pharmaceutical solutions, said: “Stora Enso is the first company in the world to use Cypak’s new single microchip solution in pharmaceuticals packaging. The solution enables low-cost, high-volume applications, which will open the way for global use of intelligent pharmaceutical cartons.”

Swedish drug development company OxyPharma has received approval from the World Health Organization’s INN program for identification of the pharmaceutical substance, Rabeximod, for treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It is currently undergoing Phase II clinical testing in Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, Sweden and the UK by Pharm-Olam International, a multinational contract research organization.

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