Thermo Fisher Scientific (www.thermofisher.com) formed a strategic partnership with Megaware (www.megawareinc.com) to deliver a new bioanalysis equivalence solution and joint support services for pharmaceutical, biotech, and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Under the terms of the collaboration, Thermo Fisher and Megaware will market an end-to-end software solution that provides bioequivalence functionality on a single platform with the goal of helping to speed up and manage clinical trials. The two companies will work together closely to target the market for bioanalysis equivalence studies, initially in India and thereafter across the Far East and other markets. The market in India for clinical trials is growing rapidly, because the average cost of trials is significantly lower than in the U.S. and Europe, adds says Dave Champagne, vp and general manager of informatics for Thermo Fisher. The consultancy firm McKinsey estimates that U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies will spend $1.5 billion per year on clinical trials in India by 2010. Thermo Fisher and Megaware will jointly sell, market, and support the new solution in the field. Thermo Fisher will bring its bioanalytical expertise to the partnership and Megaware, with headquarters in Westborough, MA, and Mumbai, India, will deliver the end-to-end technological focus combined with on-the-ground market knowledge, notes Champagne.