PRA International Expands Presence in Asia:
Announces Opening of South Korea Operation

15 July, 2009, Raleigh, N.C.—PRA International, a leading Clinical Research Organization, announces the opening of its
office in South Korea, complementing the company’s extensive network of Asian operations and partnerships. South
Korea is widely regarded as the third most important pharmaceutical market in Asia and one of the most important Asian
countries for clinical studies to support new drug registrations. China, Japan and South Korea have made a joint statement
of cooperation on clinical research and Japan is now accepting South Korean clinical trial data for Japanese registration.

The government of South Korea has demonstrated its commitment to establishing the country as a key clinical research
location in the Asian region through the formation of KoNECT, the South Korea National Enterprise for Clinical Trials.
The increasing volume of multinational clinical research taking place across all trial phases is indicative of the
organization’s success. Pharmaceutical companies are attracted to the region by its many advantages, including:

  • Quality of clinical data
  • Progressive and efficient regulatory and ethical systems, exemplified by 30-day Approval Clock for INDs and
adherence to ICH-GCP
  • Active engagement of world-class Investigators
  • Highly educated and committed clinical research professionals (CRAs, Study Nurses, and Study site
personnel)
  • State-of-the-art trial facilities including 124 Korean FDA accredited sites and 12 regional clinical trial centers
overseen by KoNECT
  • Proximity to vast patient populations

PRA has been providing clinical trial management services in South Korea since 2005, mainly through local partnerships.
“Increasing customer expectations and project needs have prompted us to establish a legal entity and a local team of
clinical professionals,” noted Edward Ian, Sr. Director of Clinical Operations, PRA - Asia Pacific. “We anticipate
significant growth of our operations in South Korea in the next few years to conduct clinical studies across a wide array of
therapeutic indications, including oncology, neurology, respiratory disorders, infectious diseases and cardiovascular,
endocrinology and metabolic disorders.”

PRA’s Executive VP of Product Registration for Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, Susan Stansfield, also commented:
“The addition of the South Korean office to our existing Asian network, together with our continuing plans for expansion
across the Asian region, further enhances PRA International’s position as a CRO gateway to the world’s most dynamic
and rapidly expanding clinical research environment.”

Источник: wwwprainternational.com