SAS helps executives at Aeris Therapeutics breathe easier

Biopharmaceutical firm selects SAS® for business intelligence (BI) to navigate the clinical trial approval process

CARY, N.C.  (Jan. 23, 2006)  –  Patients suffering from advanced emphysema today have very few options for relieving their symptoms. One option is high-risk, open-chest surgery to remove damaged regions of the lung.  Aeris Therapeutics, a start-up biopharmaceutical firm based in Woburn, Mass., has pioneered the Aeris BLVR System, a treatment regimen that, with FDA approval, would provide a non-surgical alternative for reducing the damaged portions of patients’ lungs and helping them breathe more comfortably.

In an effort to accelerate the clinical trial process for the Aeris BLVR System while substantially reducing costs, Aeris Therapeutics has selected SAS® Enterprise BI Server to serve as a platform for improving operational efficiency and decision making, establishing consistency in data quality, and delivering more timely information in the approval process and beyond.

"Even though we’re a small, 30-person company in the early stages of the FDA approval process, our management has made the decision to build our company for the long term," said Jennifer Brooks, associate director of clinical research and development for Aeris Therapeutics. "SAS Enterprise BI Server will help us manage our clinical data right now while playing a key role in helping us address needs in manufacturing and other aspects of our business as we grow."

By using SAS Enterprise BI Server as a foundation for building in-house expertise in clinical trial management and operational analysis, Brooks estimated that Aeris Therapeutics will save at least $1 million over the next three years.

Aeris Therapeutics selected SAS based on the software company’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. "SAS is the gold standard for submissions to the FDA, and SAS’ experts understand what we mean when we ask for certain capabilities," Brooks said. "SAS has helped to guide us in the right direction when it comes to equipping us with the software we need right now and helping us plan for what we will need in the years ahead."

A major component of the SAS®9 Enterprise Intelligence Platform, SAS Enterprise BI Server ( http://www.sas.com/technologies/bi/entbiserver/index.html ) is a comprehensive business intelligence solution that empowers users at all levels across an organization. SAS Enterprise BI Server provides a suite of BI functions including reporting, query and analysis, OLAP, integrated analytics, visualization and integration with Microsoft Office environments.

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