Almost 2 years after its inauguration, the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service is unveiling a new brand identity.

Officially launched by the CATALIS Network in September 2022, the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service aims to authorize clinical trials in ≤ 8 weeks.

We are pleased to announce that, to date, the Service has enabled the authorization of 37 clinical trials conducted by 9 major pharmaceutical companies in 14 participating Health and Social Service Institutions (établissements de santé et de services sociaux (ESSS)), representing a total of 67 FAST TRACK authorizations in record time.

Indeed, the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service enabled the ESSS to authorize these clinical trials in a median of 9 weeks, and sponsors to activate them in a median of 13 weeks, a reduction of nearly 75% of the standard authorization times.

Many of the participating ESSS were among the first activated sites in the world, raising the profile of Quebec's capabilities and expertise internationally and speeding up the recruitment of patients from the province.

We would like to thank AstraZeneca, Bayer, BeiGene, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and our participating ESSS, as well as all members of our Network, for contributing to the great success of this service. Thanks to your commitment and trust, we have been able to demonstrate that it is possible to optimize administrative processes to accelerate the development of innovative treatments for the benefit of patients.

GSK Authorized 3 First Trials With a Median Time of 8.4 Weeks and Activated the First Site Globally

The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Inc (GSK) has used CATALIS' FAST TRACK Evaluation Service for the first time to accelerate the authorization of their studies Galaxies 202 (Head and Neck Cancer), AZUR-2 (colon cancer), and INSIGHT (HIV-1). The 3 clinical trials were authorized in a median time of 8.4 weeks in 3 Quebec healthcare institutions: the Jewish General Hospital, the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec.

Bayer: The CHUM Was Ranked First in the World After Using the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service

The Bayer pharmaceutical company used the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service for the first time to accelerate the authorization of its PAnTHA advanced prostate cancer trial at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) in 10.4 weeks, with site activation in 12.2 weeks. The CHUM positioned itself as the first site activated worldwide and also recruited the first patient globally.

CATALIS is pleased to welcome the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Canada Inc. to its Network of partners. Gilead joins numerous industry partners that are actively involved in the Network: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BeiGene, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and Vertex.

These pharmaceutical partners support CATALIS in its mission, which is to optimize Quebec’s clinical research environment and accelerate the development of innovative care for the benefit of the province’s patients.

The CATALIS Network keeps growing. Bladder Cancer Canada, the Canadian Liver Foundation, Fighting Blindness Canada, and Pancreatic Cancer Canada have joined 3 patient partners and more than 30 patient organizations. Together, they represent the patient’s voice and contribute to CATALIS’ mission of optimizing clinical research in Quebec, in order to accelerate the development of innovative patient care for everyone’s benefit.

The CATALIS Network is delighted to be able to rely on the support of patient partners Casandra Poitras, Raymond Vles and Catherine Wilhelmy.

Catherine Wilhelmy has been a member of the Patient Advisory Committee since its inception, while Casandra Poitras and Raymond Vles have now joined the Patient Advisory Committee and specific projects, alongside more than thirty patient organizations.

The Patient Partnership is a civic collaboration whose purpose is to ensure that the patient’s voice is reflected in healthcare system guidelines and decisions. Patient partners are involved in various ways (scientific popularization, governance, setting research priorities) and work closely with public healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, or government agencies. Thanks to their own patient experiences (i.e. all situations experienced by individuals with a medical condition), patient partners bring a unique perspective that contributes to the continuous improvement of health care and service offerings.

Alexandra Obadia - Chief Legal and Data Officer

Her extensive experience in the health research ecosystem has enabled her to develop trusted relationships and strategic partnerships in both the public and private sectors, and to chair and serve on numerous committees and boards.

As Chief Legal and Data Officer at CATALIS, Me Obadia’s mandate is to lead the organization’s legal and ethical affairs, as well as to develop a health data governance expertise service whose role will be to support the healthcare network in developing systems for access to medical-administrative data in line with best practices.

Thomas de Brouwer - Communications Manager

As a Communications Manager, he will contribute to the success of the organization and to the promotion of scientific innovation in Quebec. He will be responsible for a variety of communication, marketing and promotional projects for CATALIS and Clinical Trials Quebec.

Yasmine Hadji - Project Lead

Yasmine has also worked in pediatric allergy, hematology and oncology. These diverse experiences have shaped her versatility and adaptability, soft skills that serve her well in her role.

As a Project Lead at CATALIS, Yasmine will be involved in the development of the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service to help Quebec patients obtain rapid access to clinical trials.

Clinical Trials Quebec: Everything You Need to Know About Clinical Research and Clinical Trials

Since last November, CATALIS Quebec, in partnership with the Quebec government and in collaboration with its Network of partners, is proud to offer the Quebec population CLINICAL TRIALS QUEBEC (CTQ): an innovative provincial tool to learn about clinical research and easily find clinical trials. 

Infographics and online tools, such as a Directory of Patient Organizations and Quebec's Public Clinical Trials Database, allow everyone to obtain information on clinical research. In addition, a Personalized Support Service helps patients, caregivers and medical staff identify clinical trials that match their criteria.

Visit the CTQ Website