Gaurav Sharma Joins as Therapeutic Area Leader, Rare Disease and Oncology

Expands Worldwide Clinical Trials’ Oncology Franchise

MORRISVILLE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Worldwide
Clinical Trials, Inc., (Worldwide) an award-winning, full-service,
midsize, global CRO, announced today that Gaurav Sharma, M.Pharm, PMP,
C.Sci, FIBMS, MICR, has joined the company as Senior Vice President,
Therapeutic Area Leader, Rare Disease and Oncology.

Rare disease and oncology trials often share the same challenges:
vulnerable populations, a global focus with multiple trial sites, and an
urgent need to adapt clinical trial designs to the complexities of
conducting research in these populations. In this position, Sharma will
leverage Worldwide’s established expertise in global rare disease and
orphan indication clinical trial methodology and recruitment, as well as
its renowned first-in-human, first-in-class and phase I and II clinical
trial services, to help emerging and established biotech and
pharmaceutical organizations meet the increasingly complex and
specialized demands of modern oncology research.

“Gaurav’s education, clinical and research experiences place him in a
select group of leaders that can complete complex early phase trials
that are important to the development of new treatments for patients
with cancer,” said Peter Benton, president and COO, Worldwide Clinical
Trials. “He will play a pivotal role in taking the foundation we have
built by successfully executing the most complex and challenging rare
disease, orphan indication and early phase clinical trials to the next
level. Now, biotech and emerging pharmaceutical organizations have the
nimble, responsive, experienced team they need to overcome hurdles and
conduct conclusive studies for even the most novel oncology therapies
and advanced therapy medicinal products for orphan indications.”

With a career spanning more than 15 years, Sharma is a recognized global
project management leader for development of numerous novel therapeutics
targeting oncology, hematology and rare diseases. Prior to joining
Worldwide, he last served as Senior Vice President and Head of Global
Project Management at Premier Research and has held several senior roles
of increasing responsibility with ICON plc, Takeda and PAREXEL.

Sharma earned a Master of Pharmacy (clinical pharmacology with
specialization in clinical research) from JSS Academy of Higher
Education and Research. He is a PMI-certified Project Management
Professional, a Certified Director by World Council for Corporate
Governance and a Chartered Scientist (C.Sci) by Science Council, UK.

“I’m honored to join Worldwide, an organization that is well positioned
to transform biopharmaceutical development and commercialization for
early phase oncology – where we are seeing a paradigm shift with
promising new strategies to treat cancer,” said Sharma. “The highly
qualified, motivated team here has built its reputation on all the
hallmarks of outstanding science and operations – flexibility,
entrepreneurial drive, unparalleled expertise in complex and novel study
designs, targeted therapies, cohort management, and niche patient
population recruitment – to stake its claim as the world’s best midsized
CRO.”

Worldwide is well versed in implementing first-in-human, combined phase
I/II, global pivotal registration, specialty regulatory designation
(“breakthrough therapy,” “fast track,” “accelerated approval”) and
adaptive trial methodology. This announcement marks the latest in a
series of recent investments Worldwide has made to expand the scale,
expertise and optimized technologies needed to support the latest wave
of innovation in oncology clinical research. In March, Worldwide
announced a strategic alliance with Deep Lens, an AI-driven digital
pathology company, to accelerate recruitment and development timelines
for oncology trials.

For more information on Gaurav Sharma and the expansion of the oncology
and rare disease therapeutic areas at Worldwide Clinical Trials, visit www.worldwide.com.

About Worldwide Clinical Trials

Worldwide Clinical Trials employs more than 1,600 professionals around
the world, with offices in North and South America, Eastern and Western
Europe, Russia, and Asia. Founded by physicians committed to advancing
medical science, Worldwide is out to change how the world experiences
CROs – in the best possible way. From early phase and bioanalytical
sciences through late phase, post-approval and real-world evidence, we
provide world-class, full-service drug development services.

With infrastructure and talent spanning 60 countries, we execute
predictable, successful studies with operational excellence across a
range of therapeutic areas, including central nervous system,
cardiovascular, metabolic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders
(IMID), oncology and rare diseases. We never compromise on science or
safety. We’re never satisfied with the status quo. We’re the Cure for
the Common CRO.

For more information, visit http://www.worldwide.com.

Contacts

Worldwide Clinical Trials
Sherri Stuart, 610-563-8768
[email protected]