Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has signed up for a suite of clinical cloud services from Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL). The move further tightens the relation that the two companies have had for years. The financial details of the latest deal weren’t disclosed, but Pfizer explained what it is expecting from the arrangement.

Pfizer will get from Oracle a wide range of clinical research technology solutions that include risk-based monitoring (RBM) and electronic data capture. The suite of applications that Pfizer has signed up for from Oracle in the latest deal will help the drug maker to easily share data with its CROs. It is worth pointing out that Pfizer relies on CROs such as Parexel and Icon for clinical trial programs.

Cost-saving opportunity

Besides the benefit of modernizing its clinical research processes, Pfizer is also looking at the opportunity to drop some costs in its clinical trial programs. For example, accessing clinical study data through Oracle’s platform will eliminate the need of exchanging files back and forth with the CROs. That should not only save money, but also time in clinical study while ensuring high quality is maintained in the research programs.

Rigorous review

It turns out that Pfizer didn’t simply settle for Oracle as its eClinical provider because they already have a working relationship. Oracle said that Pfizer carried out a detailed review process before it emerged as the best candidate to provide the drug company’s clinical cloud services.

Defection from Oracle

For Oracle, the latest deal with Pfizer comes as a much-needed win. The company has seen several defections by drug companies from its platform. Oracle has been losing eClinical customers to rival Medidata Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:MDSO). It is said that Medidata took advantage of the disruption resulting from Oracle’s $685 million acquisition Phase Forward to steal its clients.

But Pfizer has reaffirmed its faith in Oracle and that should help the software giant in efforts to win back defectors. Some of the latest drug companies that have ditched Oracle’s eClinical platform are Boehringer Ingelheim and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY).