Covance acquires early clinical development business in Switzerland

pharmafile | April 8, 2009 | News story | Research and Development Covance 

Covance has expanded its presence in clinical pharmacology in Europe with the acquisition of Swiss Pharma Contract, a 50-bed clinical research company based in Basel, Switzerland.

Joe Herring, Covance chief executive, said: "Our clients' need for complex, high-science clinical pharmacology studies that can help them make decisions faster is growing.

"This acquisition significantly increases Covance's early clinical development footprint in Europe and gives our clients access to special patient populations for phase I/IIa clinical studies. Covance's early clinical development offerings are well-positioned to provide our clients with the knowledge critical to enhancing downstream success rates."

Swiss Pharma Contract provides clinical research services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical-device industries and currently works with 10 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies.

Swiss Pharma Contract has conducted more than 200 complex clinical trials since 2002, with roughly a third of them being first-in-human studies. The Basel site also has substantial expertise in radio labeled and proof-of-concept studies, experience in speciality therapeutic areas, and access to a large and active volunteer database.

The purchase also includes a modern, well-equipped clinical pharmacology facility that will increase Covance's global capacity to approximately 550 beds in the US and Europe. The company's staff includes nine physicians as well as other medical staff experienced in complex clinical trials. All Swiss Pharma Contract employees will be offered employment at Covance.

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