'India is favourable for clinical research and trial'

Kendle starts operations at A’bad SEZ.

Worlds' fifth largest clinical research organisation(CRO) Nasdaq listed Kendle today started its first special economic zone unit in India, banking on the country's favourable regulatory framework for clinical trials as well as cost efficient delivery systems.

Kendle's chief operating officer Stephen Cutler told Business Standard,"India and China are indeed cost efficient locations to conduct clinical research as well as for data management services. Moreover, India's edge over China lies in its favourable regulatory environment and research initiatives as well as investor-friendly duty structure". He added emphatically, that setting up of this 40 associate strong 14000 square feet unit at the Raheja's Mindspace SEZ is a great example of government support for private enterprises as his company received constant support of the state government in its endeavour.

Cutler feels that India would play an important role in working out cost efficient ways of developing new drugs, and that its role would not be confined to the domestic boundaries, but would also become a significant player in the Asia Pacific region.

The $416 million global CRO will start operations with 50 associates and plans to expand it up to 300 associates in the short term. "We would require around 84,000 square feet of space to house around 300 associates, and can scale up easily in the short term depending on demand", Bharat Doshi, senior director, south east Asia/India, global clinical development, Kendle said.

The Ahmedabad data center will serve as a back-end operation for data management, pharmacovigilence, bio-statistics, analytical work, medical writing and support of clinical research. Kendle has two other such backend operations in Munich in Germany and Mexico. The company that employs 3700 people worldwide across 30 countries started its India operations in 2004 with an office in Delhi. Besides Delhi, the CRO also has a clinical research facility at Ahmedabad that became operational last year and houses 28 people. The biggest chunk of work would be in the data management area, Doshi said. The company declined to give out investment figures for Indian operations citing that the Nasdaq listed company did not share country specific revenues.