Top Functional Service Providers (FSPs) in Clinical Research for 2026

The evolving role of FSP clinical trial partnerships for drug development

In recent years, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have shifted away from traditional outsourcing models toward more agile, function-specific partnerships. As clinical trials grow more complex (with global footprints, decentralized design, regulatory demands, and data-intensive requirements) sponsors increasingly rely on functional service providers (FSPs) to deliver specialized expertise, operational flexibility, and speed.

Recent industry data underscores just how mainstream FSPs have become. In 2024 the global FSP market was valued at roughly USD 17.9 billion, and is projected to nearly double — reaching around USD 38.6 billion by 2033.¹ What was once a niche outsourcing approach is now a core strategic option not just for large pharma, but for mid-sized biotechs and specialty developers seeking scalability without bloated overhead.

What is an FSP in clinical research?

A Functional Service Provider is a partner that delivers specialized services on a per-function basis rather than managing a whole program end-to-end. Services may include clinical monitoring, data management, biostatistics, programming, medical writing, pharmacovigilance, or regulatory support. By outsourcing discrete functions, sponsors keep strategic control internally while leveraging external depth and expertise.

This model enables greater flexibility: resources can be scaled up or down depending on program needs, new functions can be brought in quickly as complexity increases, and sponsors avoid long-term staffing or infrastructure commitments.

Why FSP partnerships matter now more than ever

Outsourcing specific functions to an FSP clinical research partner offers several advantages, including:

• Access to specialized expertise. FSPs offer hands-on experience in various aspects of clinical trials and drug development, providing just-in-time, fit-for-purpose resources and eliminating the need for sponsors to develop in-house expertise.
• Scalability. Sponsors can scale services up or down based on program needs without long-term commitments.
• Accelerated timelines. FSPs often have established processes that can expedite the development timeline and facilitate transitions if the sponsor experiences turnover.
• Cost efficiency. Outsourcing reduces overhead costs associated with staffing, training, and infrastructure requirements.

Characteristics of the best FSPs in clinical trials

Sponsors today are navigating clinical trials that are more global, adaptive, and decentralized than ever, with hybrid models, wearable data, and real-world evidence driving unprecedented complexity. Top functional service providers distinguish themselves by embracing digital transformation, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and incorporating decentralized trial technologies to minimize patient burden while maintaining study integrity. 

Top functional service provider partners in clinical research in 2025

Based on the characteristics described above, the top FSPs for 2025 are:

IQVIA

• IQVIA continues to deliver broad functional services, from biostatistics and data management to clinical operations, medical writing, and lifecycle safety. Their FSP model is designed to deploy and scale precisely to the needs of each sponsor. In recent years, IQVIA has broadened its scope to support direct-to-patient and decentralized trial approaches, combining flexible functional delivery with analytics platforms and digital trial tools that meet today’s patient-centric and complexity-driven requirements.²

Parexel

• Parexel offers a robust and integrated FSP model that maps seamlessly onto internal sponsor teams. Covering roles across clinical operations, data management, regulatory support, safety, medical writing, and translational science, Parexel enables sponsors to tailor their outsourcing — from single resources to fully hybrid or fully outsourced functions — based on trial needs, therapeutic area, and strategy. Their adaptable model makes them a strong partner for sponsors navigating shifting trial complexity.

  ³

 Precision for Medicine

• Precision for Medicine delivers agile, scalable FSP solutions designed to accelerate clinical development and bridge expertise gaps globally. With 40+ offices across North American, European, and Asian Pacific (APAC) locations, Precision offers 24/7 coverage to ensure business continuity, increased efficiency, and reduced risk. Precision's FSP model focuses on strategically aligned teams, flexible scaling, and operational excellence. Key services include clinical monitoring, data management, biostatistics, statistical programming, medical writing, and pharmacovigilance. Supported by robust governance and tailored to project-specific needs, Precision’s FSP partnerships enable sponsors to adapt and advance with confidence.

PPD (Thermo Fisher Scientific)

• PPD brings a mature global infrastructure, deep functional expertise, and strong regulatory and compliance capabilities. Their FSP offerings remain scalable and flexible. In an environment where hybrid and mixed engagement models are increasing, PPD’s history, breadth, and global footprint give it a distinctive value proposition for sponsors seeking to outsource selectively while maintaining high compliance standards.

ICON

• ICON continues to be a leader in FSP, offering a full spectrum of models including functional resourcing, functional outsourcing, and full-service FSP. Their scale, global presence, and flexible models make them a reliable partner for complex, multi-region trials, especially those requiring rapid scaling, regional adaptability, or hybrid/outsourced constructs.

Syneos Health

• Syneos Health offers a unique FSP model that combines clinical development with commercial expertise. They have developed a solution called FSP 360 to provide a customized outsourcing approach that prioritizes flexibility and fitness for purpose, with the aim of easing the burden of resource management without sacrificing sponsor visibility. FSP 360 considers the most appropriate model, technology, process optimization, and metrics for each client, with the objective of building a customized FSP clinical trial solution that delivers speed, flexibility, quality, and efficiencies.⁶

Premier Research

• Premier Research provides FSP services with a focus on small- to mid-sized biopharmaceutical companies, offering flexible options across the clinical development continuum. They offer expertise in niche therapeutic areas such as rare diseases and pediatrics and have been partnering with leading sponsors to deliver both long-term and project-specific support for key functions since 1998. Premier Research provides access to a dedicated team of experts around the world, including those in key life science hubs in emerging markets such as APAC.⁷

Catalyst Clinical Research

• Catalyst challenges the FSP status quo by providing approaches that are individually tailored and adaptable to each client’s changing needs. In their capacity as an FSP, they have served more than 180 clients on over 1,100 projects across functional areas, including clinical operations, data management, biostatistics and programming, and medical writing.⁸ Catalyst boasts over 7,000 subject matter experts and an 88% staff retention rate, ensuring consistency throughout projects.⁹ In addition to more common clinical operations services, they offer expertise and established processes for project governance and risk management.

Quanticate

• Quanticate offers FSP services to clients ranging from small biotechnology companies to Top 5 global pharmaceutical companies. As a specialist CRO focused exclusively on biometrics, Quanticate provides expertise in statistical programming, biostatistics, and clinical data management and can also support additional core services such as medical writing, pharmacovigilance, monitoring, and project management. They offer four different functional service provision models, from a staff augmentation FSP model to a full-service FSP model, enabling clients to customize their outsourcing strategy.¹⁰

Partnering with right FSP

Successful clinical trials require specialized, customizable support that leverages broad functional service and therapeutic area expertise. As sponsors face increasing pressure to innovate and deliver safe, effective therapies efficiently, their reliance on FSPs continues to grow. Whether delivering an individual resource, a single function within a trial, or a fully outsourced clinical trial management solution, FSPs can help sponsors achieve high-quality, cost-effective results.

Explore the ways an experienced and agile FSP optimizes adaptability, integration, and scalability at every stage of development.

References

1. Functional Service Provider (FSP) market to reach US$ 38.56 billion by 2033. News release. GlobeNewswire; September 8, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/09/08/3146294/0/en/Functional-Service-Provider-FSP-Market-to-Reach-US-38-56-Billion-by-2033-Astute-Analytica.html 
   
2. IQVIA. Functional services. Available at https://www.iqvia.com/solutions/research-and-development/functional-services.
3. Parexel. FSP Deliver Models in Clinical Trials. Available at https://www.parexel.com/solutions/fsp-delivery-models-in-clinical-trials.
4. PPD. PPD FSP solutions deliver the top-tier expertise you want and the on-time delivery you need. Available at https://www.ppd.com/our-solutions/clinical/functional-service-providers/.
5. ICON. ICON Strategic Solutions. Available at https://careers.iconplc.com/icon-strategic-solutions.
6. Syneos Health. Functional Service Provider (FSP 360). Available at https://www.syneoshealth.com/solutions/clinical-development/fsp-360.
7. Premier Research. Functional Service Provider (FSP). Available at https://premier-research.com/capabilities/functional-service-provider-fsp/.
8. Catalyst Clinical Research. Functional Service Provider for Innovative Solutions. Available at https://catalystcr.com/catalyst-flex/,
9. Catalyst Clinical Research. Global Support to Fit Clinical Trial Management Needs. Available at https://catalystcr.com/functional-expertise/.
10. Quanticate. Functional Service Provision. Available at https://www.quanticate.com/functional-service-provider.