QPS buys Xendo to expand Phase I, bioanalysis in EU

Netherlands-based XDD operates large and small molecule bioanalytical laboratories and a 24-bed clinical pharmacology unit. QPS believes integrating these sites into its network, which spans Asia, Europe and the US, positions it to expand in the increasingly consolidated biopharm market.

US-based QPS now has 300 clinical pharmacology beds across three continents – 24 in the Netherlands, 24 in Taiwan and 240 in the US. QPS claims this is one of the largest networks of Phase I beds operated by a contract research organisation (CRO).

Clients outsourcing to the European unit will also benefit from the accelerated start-up time achievable in the Netherlands. QPS believes Phase I trials can be started in four to six weeks, compared to several months for other nations, making it a location of choice for many biopharm.

These time savings are possible because of the Netherlands’ favourable regulatory environment and streamlined protocol approval process. Costs for managing trials are also lower in the Netherlands, according to QPS.

Bioanalysis​

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The acquisition also expands QPS bioanalysis capacity, adding laboratories in the Netherlands to its operations in the US and Asia. Using this network QPS will provide complete ADME packages for regulatory submissions from preclinical studies to radiolabelled human mass balance.

QPS also highlighted its capabilities in central nervous system (CNS) drug research and development. The combined company covers patient stratification, in vivo ​imaging, PK/PD correlation, clinical genotyping and specialised biomarker assay capability.

Ben Chien, chairman and CEO of QPS, said the firm can offer clients “high quality bioanalysis and Phase 1 studies​”, coupled to “expertise in ADME, genotyping and drug development process​”.