Our team can offer support around specific phases of your clinical trial or full end-to-end support. PHARMExcel are a UK-based CRO specialising in complex oncology and haematology clinical trials. We work with biotechs, medtech companies, charities and academic or NHS sponsors to design and deliver studies that are operationally realistic, scientifically robust and sensitive to the needs of people living with cancer and blood disorders.
Oncology / haematology clinical trials explained
Oncology and haematology clinical trials drive progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood conditions. These studies frequently involve high risk interventions, intensive safety monitoring and carefully defined endpoints such as response rates, progression free survival or minimal residual disease. Patients may be heavily pretreated, acutely unwell or living with chronic complications of their disease, so study design must balance scientific ambition with what is feasible and safe in practice.
Why cancer and blood disorder trials demand specialist expertise
Cancer and haematological diseases are heterogeneous. Even within a single indication, there can be multiple subtypes, molecular profiles and prior treatment pathways to consider. This complexity feeds directly into eligibility criteria, stratification, endpoint selection and statistical design. In early phase trials, sponsors must generate high quality safety data while often exploring novel combinations, targeted therapies or advanced therapies in small, closely monitored cohorts.
These studies are delivered in busy clinics, day units and specialist centres that are also providing standard of care to very sick patients. Procedures such as bone marrow biopsies, complex imaging, radiotherapy, transfusions and intensive laboratory monitoring need to be integrated into existing care pathways without overwhelming sites. Recruitment can be affected by competing trials, narrow windows of eligibility and the emotional burden of a cancer diagnosis.
In this setting, a CRO partner needs more than generic trial management skills. Dedicated oncology and haematology experience helps to anticipate where protocols may struggle in real clinical environments, understand how to work with multidisciplinary teams, and ensure that safety oversight, data quality and patient experience remain central.
Our experience in oncology and haematology clinical research
PHARMExcel has built a strong track record in early phase and complex oncology and haematology studies, including first in human and first in patient trials. Our work spans solid tumours and haematological malignancies, as well as related conditions such as amyloidosis and haemophilia.
Examples include our INKmune Phase I NK cell therapy trial in high risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia and the TRALA radiotherapy study in AL amyloidosis delivered with specialist centres in the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network. These studies required close coordination between sponsors, investigators and sites, alongside careful safety management and intensive data collection.
Over time, we have developed particular experience in indications such as myeloma , lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, amyloidosis, haemophilia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, while continuing to support novel therapies across a broader oncology and haematology portfolio. For many sponsors, we act as a bridge between cutting edge science and the practical realities of delivering studies within the UK’s research infrastructure.
PHARMExcel has also been recognised externally for its contribution to cancer research through our Top 10 Oncology Service Providers 2025 accolade, reflecting the companies commitment to quality, integrity and collaboration in this field.
Oncology Study
A phase I/IIa study of targeted radiotherapy alone for stem cell transplant conditioning in Systemic AL Amyloidosis.
Sponsor – University Hospital Southampton
ONCOLOGY-HAEMATOLOGY STUDY
A novel therapy for oncology study in MDS and ovarian cancer to prime patients’s natural killer cells to attack their cancer
Sponsor- INmune Bio Inc
Read more
ONCOLOGY STUDY
Phase I/II Interventional
A new transplant pre-conditioning technique TRALA (Targeted Radiotherapy for AL-Amyloidosis) that may result in an improvement in the response rate posttransplant for S-ALA patients
Read more
Our approach as your oncology / haematology CRO partner
Sponsors come to PHARMExcel when they want a specialist team that feels like part of their own organisation. As a smaller CRO, we offer direct access to experienced senior staff, short lines of communication and continuity of the same core project team from planning through to close out. This approach is particularly valuable in oncology and haematology, where studies can evolve rapidly in response to emerging safety data, regulatory feedback or changes in standard of care.
Our work is underpinned by a formal quality management system and adherence to GCP, applied in a way that remains proportionate to the needs of each study. We invest time at the outset to understand your programme, internal processes and expectations for communication and reporting. For companies bringing programmes into the UK, we provide practical insight into local governance requirements, capacity at early phase units and cancer centres, and how your protocol is likely to be delivered by potential sites.
Commercially, we aim to give sponsors clarity and control. Budgets are transparent and itemised, and our involvement can be shaped around your internal capabilities, from full service oncology and haematology CRO support to focused assistance with defined aspects of your programme.
"The most collaborative CRO I’ve worked with. PHARMExcel bothered to know us as a client and understands our studies inside out, making it an efficient and friendly partnership. "
Prof Mark Lowdell, CSO INmune Bio Inc
Discuss your next oncology/haematology study
Whether you are planning a first in human oncology trial, introducing an advanced therapy for a rare haematological condition or expanding an existing programme into new sites, PHARMExcel can help you assess feasibility, refine your protocol and plan delivery. To explore how our oncology and haematology CRO services could support your next study, contact our team to arrange an initial discussion.
Oncology / haematology CRO FAQs
What does an oncology / haematology CRO do for sponsors?
An oncology and haematology CRO provides specialist support for clinical trials evaluating drugs, advanced therapies, radiotherapy approaches or other interventions for cancer and blood disorders. For sponsors, this typically includes feasibility assessment, site identification, protocol review, regulatory and ethics submissions, project management, clinical monitoring, safety management and medical reporting, data management, statistics andanalysis and reporting. A team with dedicated oncology and haematology experience understands the clinical pathways, assessments and safety considerations involved, and can translate this into realistic plans and reliable trial delivery.
Which oncology and haematology indications does PHARMExcel support?
PHARMExcel’s experience spans solid tumours and haematological conditions, with particular depth in indications such as myeloma, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, amyloidosis, Acute and Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL/CLL) and haemophilia. We also support trials involving rare or emerging cancer indications and novel mechanisms of action, working closely with investigators and sponsors to understand the specific patient populations and standard of care relevant to each protocol.
What trial phases and study types can PHARMExcel support in oncology and haematology?
We support oncology and haematology studies across the clinical development life cycle, with a strong emphasis on Phase I and Phase II trials where careful safety oversight and close collaboration between sponsor, sites and CRO are essential. Our experience includes first in human and first in patient studies, radiotherapy trials, gene therapy, advanced therapy trials, interventional drug studies and Long Term Follow Up (LTFU) studies. For each study type, we shape our monitoring, data review and safety management to reflect the level of risk and complexity.
How does PHARMExcel ensure quality and regulatory compliance in oncology and haematology trials?
Quality and compliance are guided by an ISO certified quality management system and adherence to GCP. For each study, we work with sponsors to develop monitoring and safety plans that match the risk profile of the intervention and patient population. Our teams are experienced in regulatory and governance requirements and support sponsors with applications to ethics committees and the MHRA, ongoing reporting and preparation for audits or inspections. Throughout the trial, we maintain clear documentation and oversight so sponsors can be confident in the integrity of their data.
How does working with a smaller CRO benefit oncology and haematology studies?
Working with a smaller CRO means sponsors have direct access to the people who know their study in detail. Decisions can be made quickly, communication is straightforward and the same core team stays engaged from start up to close out. For oncology and haematology trials, where questions and challenges can arise frequently, this level of access and continuity supports faster, better informed decision making. Our familiarity with UK cancer and haematology centres also helps to align study plans with local capacity, care pathways and competing research activity, which can be crucial for recruitment and delivery.
Can PHARMExcel run oncology clinical trials outside the UK?
While headquartered in the UK, PHARMExcel has the experience and infrastructure to deliver clinical trials beyond the UK, working seamlessly across international sites. Our team supports sponsors with country-specific regulatory pathways, site set-up and oversight to ensure consistent quality across geographies.