WRAL Tech Wire

PPD expands international reach with office in Tokyo, closes on CRO acquisition

Pharmaceutical Product Development (Nasdaq: PPDI) is expanding its international reach with a new office in Tokyo.

PPD said the operation will allow it to offer more drug research services in Phase 11 through IV clinical trials.

In the past, PPD worked in Japan through a subcontractor.

“Japan offers competitive timelines for site startup and patient enrollment, and the government is making major improvements to streamline drug development, bringing Japan’s regulatory timelines more in line with the rest of the world,” said Fred Eshelman, PPD’s chief executive officer of PPD. “With our clients increasingly including Japan in their global drug development programs, having a base of operations in Tokyo will enable us to better meet their growing needs.”

PPD also has closed on its acquisition of AbCRO, a contract research organization based in Eastern Europe. The deal added some 230 people to PPD’s staff in Europe. Last year, PPD acquired InnoPharm, a contract research organization based in Russia.

Earlier this month, PPD acquired Magen BioSciences, a biotechnology firm focused on dermatologic therapies that is based in Waltham, Mass.

PPD operates in 38 countries with a staff of more than 10,500.

Biotech & Life Science

The latest biotechnology and life science news. Read more articles…