PPD opens office in Tokyo, Japan

US contract research organization PPD has announced the opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan, expanding its Phase II-IV clinical development  services in response to growing client demand in East Asia. PPD will  provide clinical management services in key therapeutic areas from this  location.

The office strengthens PPD's operations in the country, where it has  worked regionally and through a subcontractor. Japan has emerged as an  important, high-growth area for clinical research as initiations for  global trials have increased significantly over the past few years.

"Japan offers competitive timelines for site startup and patient  enrollment, and the government is making major improvements to  streamline drug development, bringing Japan's regulatory timelines more  in line with the rest of the world," said Fred Eshelman, chief executive  of PPD. "With our clients increasingly including Japan in their global  drug development programs, having a base of operations in Tokyo will  enable us to better meet their growing needs," he added.