Chennai: Gglobal management consulting, technology services and outsourcing Accenture and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have launched the pharmaceutical industry''s first joint centre for pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance is the monitoring of safety data to ensure optimal use of medicines. It entails the capture, assessment, and reporting of potential side effects to medicines.

Operated by more than 140 Accenture employees, the new centre will undertake the processing and coding of adverse event data and the generation of regulatory periodic and aggregate reports on safety as well as physician medical review of adverse events.

This is the first time a collaboration for ''end-to-end'' safety case processing has been established and is inclusive of specialised activities, such as medical review of the reported adverse reactions. The team is organised as a parallel process and extension of the Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmacovigilance headquarters'' operations. It allows for the seamless handling of data and reports between Accenture and Bristol-Myers Squibb while not compromising patient safety.

"Building a joint team with a specialised focus will support the continued growth of our robust product pipeline, improving scalability and increasing overall productivity," said John Balian, M.D., senior vice president, Global Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Working with Accenture, Bristol-Myers Squibb will continue to access world- talent to deliver on our regulatory obligations, while enhancing our focus on patient safety."

"Leading companies are re-thinking their operating model to drive sustainable growth and productivity," said Eric Sandor, managing director of Accenture Pharmacovigilance Services. "Through a truly collaborative partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb we have established an industry leading operation that is delivering substantial efficiency and improved flexibility for Bristol-Myers Squibb''s pharmacovigilance organization."

The pharmacovigilance center is part of Accenture''s Life Sciences Centres of Excellence in Bangalore and Chennai that Bristol-Myers Squibb already utilises. Part of the multi-year R&D agreement signed in April this year, the pharmacovigilance center furthers Bristol-Myers Squibb''s efforts to significantly expand its R&D capabilities in India as an integral part of the company''s overall global strategy.

Accenture generated net revenues of $16.65 billion for the fiscal year ended 31 August, 2006.

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