The unit, PPD’s third largest European facility, will provide the contract research organisation’s (CRO) drug safety testing and medical writing services to the increasing number of pharmaceutical firms conducting clinical trials in the region.
The firm said it had been attracted by the large pool of highly trained health care professionals provided by Sophia’s medical and pharmacy schools and add that it plans to hire around 200 people over the next 12 months.
PPD CMO Christine Dingivan explained that: “There is strong demand for both pre- and post-approval safety services, and we have an experienced management team on the ground in Bulgaria to oversee our operations and to create customized programs that meet client needs."