The move will allow Quintiles to bolster its presence in the fast-growing Indian clinical research market, which is expected to more than double in size by 2012, according to research published earlier this month by research firm RNCOS.

The new unit is due to open in early 2010 on Apollo’s hospital campus in Hyderabad, and will start with a capacity of approximately 50 beds, which will increase to 100 beds if demand develops as predicted.

Apollo is the largest private hospital chain in India, while Quintiles is the biggest CRO globally with 14 per cent of the world market, according to Frost & Sullivan. Their new unit, which will evaluate compounds developed both within and outside of India, will be Quintiles’ fifth location in India, but the first offering Phase I services.

Quintiles’ other Phase I units are located in England, Kansas in the US and Sweden (Lulea and Uppsala).

India is increasingly attractive as a hub for clinical research thanks to a huge patient pool representing both chronic and infectious diseases, as well as easy recruitment of patients. RNCOS also estimates that cost savings afforded by locating trials in India can be 50 to 75 per cent.

“This new Phase I unit will draw on the existing experience of Quintiles staff in India, including our established cardiology group,” commented Eddie Caffrey , Quintiles’ senior vice president, global Phase I.

Quintiles and Apollo anticipate their combined investment for the new unit will be around $6m.