Direct Clinical Trial Management: Practical Approaches to CRO Selection and Clinical Outsourcing for Lean Biotech Teams with Antonio Bermejo Gomez

Unlock best practices for sponsor-led decision-making in clinical trial outsourcing, with real-world insight into optimizing CRO selection, partnership models, and operational efficiency, straight from a lean biotech team navigating these choices under budget and time constraints.

GuestAntonio Bermejo Gomez, Chief Development Officer, SynartroOperational leader at a Swedish clinical-stage biotech, hands-on with direct sponsor oversight, CRO/vendor selection, and clinical trial deliveryLinkedIn: Antonio Bermejo GomezModerator: Sverre Bengtsson, Clinical Trials Advisor

Episode OverviewRecorded live at COG Nordics, this focused session features Antonio Bermejo Gomez, Chief Development Officer at Synartro, sharing a sponsor’s perspective on direct clinical trial management. The discussion, guided by David Jones and Sverre Bengtsson, centers on how very small biotech organizations can retain control, make more agile decisions, and achieve clinical study optimization even with limited team size and resources.

This episode addresses the core of clinical trial outsourcing: how to maximize operational efficiency, preserve sponsor accountability, and adapt CRO selection frameworks for niche or highly constrained environments. Antonio Bermejo Gomez breaks down real-world strategies for working with specialized consultants, defining sponsor versus CRO responsibilities, and ensuring transparent decision ownership throughout a trial’s lifecycle.

Listeners will hear practical insights on:

Structuring lean teams to optimize clinical operations without traditional full-service CRO partnershipsBalancing the roles of independent consultants, vendor partners, and in-house expertiseCritical considerations in CRO and CDMO selection when project fit and operational transparency are business-critical

Professionals involved in CRO selection, clinical outsourcing strategy, or day-to-day study delivery will find actionable perspectives and frameworks to apply in their own clinical operations best practices.

Key Moments00:02:39 – The realities of running clinical operations with only two core sponsor staff, emphasizing strict budget control and constrained capital

00:04:47 – Key principle: Sponsor dependence on external partners demands robust clinical outsourcing strategies and clear delegation

00:10:03 – Communication and transparency: Why honest dialogue between sponsor leadership and consultants is essential for small, resource-limited biotechs

00:11:16 – Decision ownership: T