The laboratory in Shanghai, China will be used to conduct quality assurance, stability and related analysis to support all of the US drugmaker's future small-molecule drug submissions worldwide.
The new facility will only be used to provide services for B-MS and will employ a dedicated staff to oversee operations and reporting.
B-MS spokeswoman Jennifer Mauer told Outsourcing-pharma.com that: “WuXi has been a key partner for BMS R&D for the past several years, conducting various non-clinical development activities on a project by project basis” but did not say how many development projects Wuxi will undertake.
The deal is the third major strategic services partnership B-MS has entered into behind the separate deals it signed with US contract research organisations (CRO) Icon and Parexel in June last year.
Now, as then, the US drugmaker stressed the benefits of having a close working relationship with its contractor.
B-MS SVP of non clinical development Mark Powell, said: “[The agreement is] an example of our R&D organization executing our company's BioPharma model by using selective integration to leverage the strengths and talents of both Bristol-Myers Squibb and a valued partner."
Powell also said that the agreement expands the firm’s presence in China, which is one of five target emerging markets it identified as an important growth opportunity in its financial report for 2010.
B-MS’ currently operates one manufacturing facility in China which, like Wuxi’s lab, is located in Shanghai. The plant produces a range of drugs including antibiotics, analgesics and treatments for cardio vascular disorders.
Wuxi, which is due to announce its financial results for 2010 later today, did not respond to Outsourcing-pharma.com’s request for additional information about the new laboratory facility.