Beyond contracts: principles for Pharma–CRO collaboration from the European Bioanalysis Forum

Collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations is central to drug development, yet projects often stumble on well-known weaknesses: communication that does not adapt to the phase of work, expectations that remain unclear, partnerships reduced to transactions, and functions working in silos. Within the European Bioanalysis Forum, two dedicated teams examined these issues in depth, focusing on communication and on building sustainable partnerships. Their reflections were calibrated through dialogue with the wider community during a Focus Workshop, and sharpened by the perspective of the Forum's leadership. This paper brings forward a number of principles that, in the view of the teams and delegates, are essential to more reliable collaboration. They are not an exhaustive list, but a structured starting point for reflection. Reliable collaboration enables science to move forward efficiently and, ultimately, to benefit the patient.