INC Research expands in Japan amid 'evolution of the clinical trial landscape'

29-May-2016 - Last updated on 30-May-2016 at 08:15 GMT

INC's Japanese operations have more than tripled its employee headcount since early 2015. (Image: iStock/eyegelb)

The CRO has opened new offices in Japan as part of its long-term growth strategy in the country – the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market.

“In Japan, we are in the midst of an evolution of the clinical trial landscape, rather than an acute increase in demand,” Miranda Porter, PhD, Senior VP, Clinical Development, told Ousourcing-Pharma.com. “In the last two decades, adaptations to the Japanese regulatory environment have fostered the implementation of multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs), including Japan.”

According to Porter, as Japan’s clinical trial landscape has become more globally integrated, local biopharmaceutical companies have become more interested in expanding their clinical trial investigations into the Asian Pacific region – and elsewhere.

“There are unique aspects to the clinical trial infrastructure in Japan, and highly relevant sociocultural components as well,” added Porter. For these reasons, planning and local expertise are important when conducting trials in the country.

“Our ability to grow and attract key CRO talent in Osaka and Tokyo allows INC Research to best serve our customers seeking to conduct clinical trials at sites throughout the country,” said Porter. “This, in turn, helps us to support our customers in bringing new medicines to the people who need them in Japan.”

According to the company, Japanese operations have more than tripled its employee headcount since early 2015.

Porter explained that there are several drivers behind the company’s decision to increase its presence in Osaka while also growing operations in Tokyo. Mainly, it allows the company to engage with its customers and industry experts in person, “in order to ensure that project teams maximize planning, risk mitigation, and process improvement during the life cycle of any given study,” said Porter.

Having the office in Osaka will also help the company recruit experienced professionals from within the Kansai region, which Porter said is a known to have a notable talent pool in the pharmaceutical development sector. The location also allows for more efficient travel to key clinical trial sites in the region.