Shanghai-based contract research organisation (CRO) Tigermed provides Phase I to IV development and biometrics services and operates 21 offices across China, employing more than 300 clinical development staff
This workforce and geographic reach, coupled with knowledge of China’s clinical trial sector, made Tigermed an ideal partner according to John Hubbard, group president of Icon’s global clinical research services.
“TigerMed's strength in China complements Icon's strong regional presence in Asia Pacific and makes them the ideal partner for Icon as we continue to drive the rapid and effective development of our client's global drug development portfolios."
Tigermed’s presence in the early clinical-stage services sector, particularly its biometrics and Phase I unit in Changsha, also fits with the growth plan that Icon unveiled last year.
Speaking to Outsourcing-pharma at AAPS 2009 Brian O’Dwyer, vice president, bioanalytical development at Icon, said that having set up in India and expanded in Singapore the CRO had started to look at China.
And just last month Icon’s plans in China and Asia Pacific were cited as a significant positive by Morningstar analyst Lauren Migliore who said she was “heartened by its efforts to expand operations in new markets.”
Additionally from a wider CRO industry perspective, the partnership matches the to seek improved access to patients in emerging markets in response to both growing drug industry and regulatory demand.
Growth through alliances
Working with Icon is also in keeping with Tigermed’s strategy of infrastructure building through alliances which, early last year, saw the firm partner with the Chinese division of US CRO MacroStat.
That deal focused on use of Delware-based MacroStat’s suite of statistical analysis technologies to streamline data management and analysis during clinical trials.
Prior to the MacroStat accord Tigermed teamed with Russian and South Korean counterparts OCT and LSK to “establish a global clinical trials network” and expand its geographic footprint.