GoBalto, Inc.

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goBalto, Inc. is a Web 2.0 company, that operates a business-oriented web-based collaboration site of the same name. The company, founded in October 2008 was launched April 2009 and is mainly used for [...] discovery and development partnering. As of July 2009, it had more than 8,500 companies listed, spanning 500 service categories. The websiteʼs name stems from the Siberian Husky sled dog, Balto, who led his team on the final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome to deliver diphtheria antitoxin. Oscar Villalon, a Senior Content Strategist from Hot Studio, came up with the name.

History

goBalto was founded by Jae Chung, out of the idea of improving transparency on the global pharmaceutical outsourcing industry via a vendor rating system. The site has since become a web-based collaboration tool for the [...] discovery, development and manufacturing industry. Jae Chung retained Hot Studio for branding and design and Carbon 5 for web development to build a prototype. goBalto launched its website on April 23, 2009 with an initial directory of 7,000 companies and consultants. goBalto has since expanded its site directory to include over 8,500 companies with 4,000 active registered members.

Services

Search and filter

goBalto allows anyone to search through its list of companies and consultants, which goBalto refers to as "Partners." A typical search includes what the user is seeking (e.g. a clinical research organization) and a filter to narrow the search (e.g. clinical trial management software in India). Each business listing result consists of a 5-point rating, reviews from other site visitors, and details general information including the business address and contacts. Business owners can directly update their own listing information. Listings and related content are organized by region and a multi-tier categorization system. Content and listings can also be discovered through categorized reviews or via goBalto member profiles and their review lists.

There is also a function to search for members either by name or e-mail address.

Content

The goBalto site has listings for [...] discovery & development companies throughout the world and accept reviews of any business or service. Listings vary widely in nature with the site including listings for clinical research organizations, consultants, contract manufacturers, generic & biosimilar services, investigator sites, packaging and logistics services, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, preclinical and Nonclinical services, and professional services.

goBalto rating system has five categories to rate from 0 to 100.

Ratings

Registered members can rate and review businesses based on project management, work-style, technical expertise, quality & compliance and commercial terms. Reviews will be removed if they breech company guidelines regarding conflicts of interest, second-hand experiences and hearsay, personal attacks, relevance, and plagiarism.

Features

The Activity Feed is a listing of a member's activities as well as contacts' activities. A member can keep up to date on opportunities, answers, resources, and company ratings.

goBalto's mail system implements a "Discussion Thread" feature, which allows multiple contacts to a keep a history of their discussion and send documents to each other.

Members can make and share "collections" of vendors. Collections are used to save a selection of companies and can be sent to other contacts.

Advertising

Businesses may advertise with goBalto for extra listing features. For a monthly subscription fee, the business may add more descriptive text, logos, images, and video for its listing. Additionally, these advertisers, called "Premium Partners" on the site, are allowed to upload documents to share with members on the site.

Partnerships

goBalto has entered into a number of strategic partnerships with regional service providers in fast growing outsourcing regions (e.g. India and China). Through the partnerships, goBalto has gained access to directory content on listings of leading service providers.

ChinaBio

ChinaBio tracks the biotech and life science industries in China, one of the leading countries for clinical trials outsourcing. Its proprietary list of CROs and CMOs listed on goBalto is divided into two categories: "Sourced by ChinaBio" and "Reviewed by ChinaBio." The "Sourced by" designation indicates that ChinaBio has identified these CROs and CMOs as actively operating in China and that information on the company is maintained in its database. "Reviewed by" indicates that ChinaBio has visited the facility, met with senior management and reviewed the company's specific capabilities. Over 40 of the CROs/CMOs listed on goBalto have been reviewed to date. goBalto recently attended the ChinaBio Partnering Forum on June 23-24, 2009.

Maya Clinicals

Maya Clinicals is a leading Clinical Research Organization (CRO) in India, one of the foremost countries for clinical trials outsourcing. Its proprietary list of Investigator Sites listed on goBalto is divided into two categories: "Sourced by Maya Clinicals" and "Screened by Maya Clinicals." "Sourced by" indicates Maya Clinicals has identified these Investigator Sites as actively operating in India and maintains information on the company. "Screened by" indicates Maya Clinicals has visited the facility, met with senior management and reviewed the company's specific capabilities.

Pharma Services Network

Pharma Services Network facilitates the strategic global outsourcing of clinical trials. Its proprietary list of global CROs, now listed on goBalto, is divided into two categories: "Recommended by Pharma Services Network" and "Represented by Pharma Services Network." "Recommended by" indicates Pharma Services Network has identified these CROs as quality service providers. Pharma Services Network can facilitate information about, and introductions to, these recommended CROs. "Represented by" indicates Pharma Services Network has visited the facility, met with senior management and endorses the company's specific capabilities. Pharma Services Network actively represents these CROs to clinical trial sponsors in the USA.

See also

  • Social Network
  • Business Network
  • List of social networking websites
  • Clinical Research Organizations
  • Contract Manufacturing Organizations
  • Clinical trials
  • Preclinical Research

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