Compound Management Trends

Monday, September 05, 2005 Print


Published December 2004 by HTStec

This market report summarizes the results of a global benchmarking web-based survey of Pharma and Biotech compound management groups.  The objective of the study being to comprehensively document current practices, issues and future trends in compound management, with a particular focus on compound quality control and just-in-time compound delivery.

Highlights of this Report:



  • The survey collected 70 responses (63 complete and 7 partially filled out) from 50 different Pharma and Biotech companies and 2 University/Research Institutes.

  • Responses from were split geographically 44% North America and 56% Europe.

  • Survey respondents were drawn from 32 Small-Medium Pharma/Biotechs, 31 Large Pharma, 2 Agrochemical Companies, 2 Contract Service Organisations, 2 University/Research Institutes and 1 Cosmetic Company.

  • Respondents were either directly responsible for or directly involved in compound management within their company; or were closely involved in the preparation of assay ready plates from stocks provided by compound management. They represented 40 compound management groups; 20 screening groups; 3 corporate research management group; and 7 other groups.

  • All data was presented and analyzed as the average response of All Survey Respondents. In addition, the data was fully reanalyzed after sub-division into the following 4 survey groups: 1) Large Pharma; 2) Small-Medium Pharma/Biotech; 3) Purchased Commercial Stores; and 4) Use of In House Alternatives.

  • The mean size of a compound library today (2005) was 0.81 million compounds, this is expect to grow 1.42 million by 2008.

  • Nearly one third of companies surveyed still use an ad hoc arrangement of lab freezers as the main component of their CM store.

  • 60% of respondents had purchased a commercial CM store. REMP was the most popular commercial provider of the main component of their CM stores.

  • Of the CM stores surveyed 68% represented a main (central) store, 27% a local site store and 5% a satellite lab store.

  • Of the CM stores surveyed most used microplates and microtubes in part of the same facility;

  • 89% of all liquid stocks today are in 100% DMSO (assumed starting concentration).

  • The most common storage volume today is 0.1-0.5ml, this is also expected to be the case in 2008.


  • more...(PDF)