NEW YORK & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medidata Solutions (NASDAQ: MDSO), a leading global provider of hosted clinical development solutions, today announced that Sumisho Computer Systems Corporation (SCS) has become the first IT systems integration services provider to join Medidata’s ASPire to Win® program for contract research organizations (CROs) and service providers. The partnership enables SCS, headquartered in Tokyo, to expand its clinical solution capabilities and expertise by adding services to support the Medidata Rave^® electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management (CDM) solution.

With more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a global customer base, SCS offers deep expertise in IT project management, systems development, configuration, and testing as well as clinical data warehousing and analysis solutions. By joining Medidata’s ASPire to Win program, SCS will be able to offer new Rave-related data management services to life sciences customers, supporting Medidata customers in Japan and globally.

“SCS is committed to providing technology solutions that improve efficiencies and productivity for life sciences customers,” said Seiichiro Nagaya, General Manager, Data Science Division, SCS. “By joining Medidata’s ASPire to Win program we will be able to add Medidata Rave-related services to our extensive solution set and bring additional value to sponsors of clinical research.”

Medidata’s ASPire to Win program selects, trains and accredits clinical service providers to deliver Medidata Rave clinical trial technology along with their own project and data management expertise. The program offers these organizations the choice of four enablement levels – Rave Aware, Rave Ready, Rave Accredited and Rave Accredited Plus. SCS has elected to attain the most advanced level, Rave Accredited Plus, in order to provide sponsors with a range of Rave-related services, including end user training, study build, advanced reporting, integrations, custom function development and migrations.

“We are delighted to welcome SCS to the ASPire to Win program. SCS’ deep systems integration expertise will strategically complement the services of our CRO partners already supporting Medidata Rave implementations in Asia,” said Graham Bunn, Vice President of Global CRO Partnership, Medidata Solutions. “Partnering for the first time with a systems integrator broadens the Medidata Rave-related services and systems expertise available to support our growing customer base in Japan and elsewhere in Asia.”

Medidata first announced ASPire to Win in April 2005 as a partner program designed to enable select CROs and other service providers to offer Medidata Rave implementation services. Since then, ASPire to Win has grown to include 20 partners, ranging from smaller clinical consultancies to large, global CROs. For more information about the ASPire to Win program, visit http://www.mdsol.com/partnerships/cros.htm.

About Sumisho Computer Systems Corporation (SCS)

Sumisho Computer Systems Corporation (SCS) (http://www.scs.co.jp/english/), founded in 1969, offers a wide range of system integration services to companies not only in Japan but worldwide. SCS aims to be in the first tier in the IT services industry, focusing on three strategic business domains: the industry-specific application business, which utilizes expert knowledge in each industry to customize system architecture to client needs; the ERP solutions business, which includes proprietary packaged software; and the platform solution business, which concentrates on IT architecture services for the creation of IT systems. SCS will provide your company with a service of trust and quality.

About Medidata Solutions Worldwide

Medidata Solutions (www.mdsol.com) is a leading global provider of hosted clinical development solutions that enhance the efficiency of customers’ clinical development processes and optimize their research and development investments. Medidata products and services allow customers to achieve clinical results more efficiently and effectively by streamlining the design, planning and management of key aspects of the clinical development process, including protocol development (Medidata Designer™), investigator benchmarking and budgeting (Medidata Grants Manager™), contract research organization (CRO) benchmarking and budgeting (Medidata CRO Contractor™), and the capture, management, analysis and reporting of clinical trial data (Medidata Rave®). Medidata’s diverse customer base spans pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, academic institutions, CROs and other research organizations, and includes more than 20 of the top 25 global pharmaceutical companies.