The world’s largest life sciences services company is expanding its offerings in the world’s most populous country.

Early Monday, Quintiles disclosed plans to open a new regional headquarters in the city of Shanghai.

Quintiles also is expanding its lab testing services in that country.

“With its burgeoning economy and growing healthcare needs for its 1.3 billion citizens, China exemplifies the opportunities and challenges of the New Health,” said Quintiles Executive Chairman Dennis Gillings in a statement. “By broadening our investment and infrastructure here, Quintiles is ready to partner with our biopharma customers as they look to realize China’s potential.”

The expansion is the latest in a series made by Quintiles not only to expand in China but also in Asia.

The Triangle-based company will partner with Shanghai Clinical Research Centre in the lab expansion in a joint venture. Financial terms were not disclosed.

However, Quintiles said that it would invest $14 million to open the Shanghai headquarters, which will cover 43,000 square feet.

It is designed to accommodate more than 450 employees, a number expected to be reached over the next five years.

“These investments and agreements demonstrate our commitment to this District and to China,” said Ling Zhen, general manager for Quintiles’ operations in China. “Quintiles recognizes the unique needs of our customers in China. By collaborating with SCRC in labs we can help local and international biopharma companies develop new and better medicines to serve China’s enormous unmet medical needs.”

Quintiles has operated in China since 1997 and already operates offices in Beijing, Dalian, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The company also recently launched a China-based contract research organization called Kun Tuo.

[QUINTILES ARCHIVE: Check out a decade of Quintiles stories as reported in WRAL Tech Wire.]