Reframing Syndicated Research: Agile, Cost-Effective, and Rooted in Real-World Evidence

Authored by: Helen Parfitt, Senior Director, Head of Syndicated, and Helen Cox, Senior Commercial Director at Research Partnership

In the pharmaceutical space, syndicated research can get boxed into legacy thinking – seen as a generic, off-the-shelf report. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Modern syndicated research should be lean, agile, and built to deliver what matters: relevant, real-world insights that align with current commercial and clinical needs. At Research Partnership, syndicated solutions are grounded in real-world evidence derived from anonymized patient and healthcare professional (HCP) data.

Responsive by Design: Syndicated That Moves With the Market

The syndicated model has evolved – not by chance, but by necessity. As therapeutic landscapes shift and brand teams pivot, insights need to keep pace. Each wave of syndicated research is now shaped to reflect those changes, with storylines, KPIs, and strategic focus areas aligned to individual client needs.

Contrary to popular belief, here at Research Partnership, one client is all it takes to launch a study – and that client gets a seat at the table. Input on questionnaire design, influence over focus areas, and the agility of a syndicated approach without the heavy lift or higher investment a full custom build.

Efficiency That’s Built-In – Not Bolted On

Cost-effectiveness is baked into the syndicated model, but it doesn’t come at the expense of insight. Especially when internal teams are stretched and timelines are tight, syndicated research provides a streamlined path to informed decision making.

With the agency owning the data, pharmacovigilance requirements are lighter, with fewer compliance hurdles and less drag on client internal resources. One client succinctly said, “This isn’t for the custom team – we need to move faster.” That’s the space syndicated owns. With less internal lift required, syndicated research also offers real operational efficiency – a commercial advantage when every hour and dollar counts.

When Syndicated and Custom Work Together

Increasingly, the most effective research strategies combine the breadth of syndicated with the depth of custom. It’s not about choosing one or the other – it’s about deploying each to maximum effect.

Start with syndicated intelligence for foundational intelligence, then layer on custom where precision is needed. In many cases, there’s no need to duplicate data – existing syndicated insights can be restructured, segmented, and packaged into a fit-for-purpose custom solution that is cost-efficient.

It’s a more innovative way to allocate budget, and a more strategic way to build a full market picture.

Access to Real-World Patient Voice

Bringing the patient perspective early is no longer a nice-to-have experience. It’s a commercial imperative, particularly in pre-launch. Syndicated patient research delivers authentic, anonymized insights with no compliance bottlenecks or delays.

Take the example of a client entering a new disease area. A workshop using Living With patient data unlocked key patient needs, frustrations, and treatment journeys – insight that could have taken months to gather through a traditional custom project.

That kind of approach changes how brands go to market. It shapes positioning, messaging, even formulation and delivery decisions based on real-world evidence, not assumptions.

360° Market Intelligence

When patient-reported data from Living With is paired with HCP-reported evidence from Therapy Watch, the result is a fully rounded view of the market. One recent project layered both in a single therapy area and added custom data for deeper insight – all prepped and ready for immediate use.

This is what syndicated looks like at its best: multi-lens, strategically packaged, and available on demand.

These aren’t just assumptions or anecdotes – they’re anonymized patient records that offer real-world evidence and genuine authenticity.

Syndicated That Works Hard

Syndicated research has moved far beyond the dusty shelf. It’s now a strategic, scalable asset that offers commercial teams access to deep insight, reduces operational friction, and amplifies real-world voices.

In a high-pressure environment where timelines are short, compliance is complex, and budgets are under scrutiny, syndicated research – done right – is more than efficient. It’s transformative.

Contact us to schedule a meeting with one of our experts.