Queensland CROs collaborate to target Japan

27-Oct-2009 - Last updated on 27-Oct-2009 at 10:28 GMT

Australia-based CROs, state government and a clinical trails network are collaborating with a Japanese company to encourage businesses to outsource preclinical and early-stage research to Queensland.

The Queensland, Australia-based organisations have identified Japan as a potential growth area, believing that companies in the country are increasingly keen to outsource. Furthermore, conducting trials in Australia would allow firms to perform Japanese-Caucasian bridging studies.

TetraQ, a preclinical service provider, and Q-Pharm, an early-stage contract research organisation (CRO), recognised this potential market opportunity and have worked with state government and Queensland Clinical Trials Network (QCTN) to capitalise on it.

Having worked with their Queensland-based partners the CROs have started collaborating with MORE Medical, a Japan-based CRO. By having a partner in Japan TetraQ and Q-Pharm believe they can increase awareness of the benefits of outsourcing to Queensland.

Maree Smith, CEO of TetraQ, explained that the collaboration “is a great opportunity for TetraQ and Q-Pharm to establish a significant presence within Japan, which is encouraging the ‘outsourcing model’”.

Legislation in Japan restricted companies from outsourcing some development but this has now been revised, creating opportunities for CROs. Terry Hurst, CEO of Q-Pharm, believes Japanese firms will be attracted by “significant advantages”in cost, quality and efficiency offered by his company.

Benefits for MORE Medical

By establishing the relationship with the Queensland-based CROs MORE Medical will be able to offer clients a broader range of services and geographic options, which Smith thinks will help the business to grow.

MORE Medical will now be able to refer clients that need help through preclinical, and in particular translational research, to TetraQ. For early-stage clinical trials the Japan-based CRO can refer clients to Q-Pharm to take advantage of its Phase I and II infrastructure and expertise.

If successful the collaboration could be a boon for Australian clinical trials, which face competition from countries around the world and cutbacks from pharmas operating in the country. In response Save Australian Clinical Trials was launched.