Quintiles research community ‘features 2 million volunteers’

Quintiles has announced that over two million patients have now signed up as volunteers to iGuard, the firm’s online clinical research tool.

According to the company, the service has grown at a rapid rate since its launch two years ago and could already be the world’s largest single database of clinically profiled, opt-in patents.

It asks volunteers to give detailed information about their health and use of prescription medicines to help improve clinical studies and test new treatments.

John Ratliff, chief operating officer at Quintiles, said that iGuard is “part of the changing landscape in the biopharmaceutical industry”.

He added: “Patients are taking control over decision making about their treatments, including whether to participate in clinical trials.”

Quintiles stated that more than 73,000 patients have assisted the company with clinical research through iGuard since the beginning of 2009.

Earlier this month, the firm was crowned Clinical Research Organisation of the Year at the Scrip Awards in London.