Philadelphia Association of Clinical Trials

The Philadelphia Association for Clinical Trials (PACT) was a pioneering contract research organization (CRO) founded in 1976 as a non-profit consortium of Philadelphia-area medical schools. It was established to provide a centralized mechanism for managing clinical trials, bridging the gap between academic investigators and the pharmaceutical industry. PACT offered a wide range of services, including protocol development, data management, and statistical analysis, becoming one of the first organizations of its kind. In 1987, the organization was acquired by G.H. Besselaar Associates, a move that marked a significant consolidation in the early CRO industry. Through subsequent acquisitions, PACT's legacy became part of Covance and eventually Labcorp.