Japanese company enters Chinese market for clinical trials
A Chinese government organisation that handles applications for clinical trials, the China Centre for Pharmaceutical International Exchange (CCPIE), has entered into an agreement with Japanese company EPS that will allow the Japanese provider of contract-based clinical research to enter China's vast drug-testing market.
A Chinese government organisation that handles applications for clinical trials, the China Centre for Pharmaceutical International Exchange (CCPIE), has entered into an agreement with Japanese company EPS that will allow the Japanese provider of contract-based clinical research to enter China's vast drug-testing market.
Under the agreement the CCIPE will recommend EPS to overseas pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking to conduct clinical trials in or import drugs to China. The agreement is the CCPIE's first collaboration with an overseas company.
EPS provides outsourcing clinical research and data analysis services to drug companies in accordance with Chinese regulations. Although drug makers ultimately select the provider, CCPIE's recommendations are expected to be effective as they can help save time and effort in gathering information and preparing the necessary applications.
China is becoming a major player for offshore clinical drug research as the country's huge population offers overseas pharmaceutical companies a vast pool of potential patients. However, lack of local knowledge generally hampers would-be entrants and the current agreement is intended to ease the problems caused by official trial regulations and screening standards.