ECTEN - European Clinical Trial Experts Network

ECTEN (European Clinical Trial Experts Network) is a French company dedicated to clinical research, positioning itself as the first network of clinics and hospitals devoted to clinical trials. Founded in 2014 by professionals with more than 25 years of experience in clinical research, the company was built around the idea of serving clinical research as close as possible to the investigational sites where patients are actually enrolled. Its headquarters are located in La Rochette, France, and it operates primarily in the French and wider European clinical research market. ECTEN works with sponsors and data controllers (promoteurs and responsables de traitement) to design, set up and run clinical studies. Through partnerships with more than 200 healthcare establishments — clinics, hospitals and care facilities — it can propose research projects directly to investigators. Its service catalogue covers the full lifecycle of a clinical study: design and methodology, regulatory affairs, monitoring, pharmacovigilance and vigilance, data management, statistics, and the provision of technical and clinical research staff such as TEC (techniciens d'étude clinique) and ARC (attachés de recherche clinique), as well as study reports. ECTEN offers three partnership models: task-based, fixed-fee, and research functional unit arrangements. Beyond services, ECTEN provides a technology platform and software suite for managing clinical studies, including tools such as @CRF, @CRM and @PV, a dedicated call centre supporting clinical trials, and since January 2024 the Nomios CRMS software for administrative and financial management of clinical studies. The company also offers e-learning and animated film presentations of studies, and manages third parties such as printers and manufacturers of treatment units. ECTEN's stated commitments are availability and responsiveness, a relationship of trust, and quality assurance. It emphasises transparency of procedures, pricing, timelines and human resources, and adapts its methods to the type of sponsor — whether a physician, a healthcare establishment, a learned society, a start-up or an industrial company. According to its own reporting, it has conducted more than 400 studies over ten years, works with more than 200 collaborating healthcare establishments, and has a 94% client renewal rate. In August 2022 it acted as sponsor for the first time outside France, marking a step in its international development.

ECTEN was constituted in 2014, drawing on the more than 25 years of clinical research experience of its founders. The initial ambition was to serve clinical research as closely as possible to the investigational sites, recognising that clinical investigation sites are at the heart of research. From 2014, the company offered a dedicated call centre to support clinical studies. In May 2017, ECTEN expanded its service range with pharmacovigilance support services. In August 2022, the company took on the role of sponsor for the first time outside France, an important step in its development beyond the French market. In January 2024, the Nomios CRMS software for administrative and financial management of clinical studies was added to the service offering. Over its first decade, ECTEN reports having conducted more than 400 studies and having built a network of more than 200 collaborating healthcare establishments, including clinics, hospitals and care facilities. It also reports a 94% client renewal rate. The company positions itself as the first network of clinics and hospitals dedicated to clinical research, combining site-level proximity with a full range of CRO services and a technology platform.

• 2024

  In January 2024, the Nomios CRMS software for administrative and financial management of clinical studies enriches the service offering.

• 2022

  In August 2022, ECTEN acts as sponsor for the first time outside France.

• 2017

  In May 2017, pharmacovigilance support services are added to the offering.

• 2014

  ECTEN is constituted, founded by professionals with more than 25 years of clinical research experience; a dedicated call centre for clinical studies is offered from this year.

First network of clinics and hospitals dedicated to clinical research, offering personalised, transparent and quality-assured support to sponsors and investigators.

• Clinical trial design and methodology

  Protocol and synopsis writing, feasibility analyses and methodological support for clinical studies.

• Regulatory affairs

  Regulatory steps and submissions required to run clinical trials.

• Clinical monitoring

  Selection, contracting and dynamic management of investigational sites.

• Pharmacovigilance and vigilance

  Vigilance services for clinical trials, added in May 2017.

• Data management and statistics

  Data management and statistical services for clinical studies.

• TEC / ARC staffing

  Provision of clinical research technicians (TEC) and clinical research associates (ARC).

• Study reports

  Preparation of clinical study reports.

• Call centre for clinical trials

  Dedicated call centre supporting clinical studies, offered since 2014.

• Software suite (@CRF, @CRM, @PV)

  Clinical study management software suite made available to sponsors.

• Nomios CRMS

  Software for administrative and financial management of clinical studies, added in January 2024.

1. 1ECTEN - premier réseau de cliniques et hôpitaux dédié à la recherche clinique | Franceecten.eu
2. 2ECTEN - CRO - Mission, valeurs et engagement envers nos clients | Franceecten.eu
3. 3Les services et prestations personnalisées | ECTEN | Franceecten.eu
4. 4ECTEN - European Clinical Trial Experts Network (France) - Wikidatawikidata.org