, provider of innovative early stage drug development solutions, announces the expansion of its capabilities in the respiratory therapeutic area, with the addition of a dedicated Bronchoscopy Suite in the Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK facility. The Bronchoscopy Suite allows bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to be performed within the Celerion clinic utilizing study participants from our database.
 
 The addition of the Bronchoscopy Suite complements our ability to reliably explore the expression and quantification of protein biomarkers within the fluid lining of the lower respiratory tract. Using a multiplex approach, BAL samples can be analyzed for a panel of customized biomarkers and thereby provide a more reliable picture of the performance of potential airway drug candidates.
 
 “Celerion has successfully conducted a number of studies that include mild to moderate and severe asthmatics, COPD and Cystic Fibrosis patients. Due to an increasing demand from clients for analysis of BAL samples, the dedicated Bronchoscopy Suite offers on-site access to this procedure,” said Phil Bach, Vice President of Clinical Research at Celerion. “This investment continues to demonstrate Celerion’s response to the market’s increasing demand for conducting Phase I studies in patients with access to more specialized techniques.”
 
Celerion’s facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK also has extensive early stage clinical capabilities based on First-In-Human experience with both NCEs and biologics, as well as bioequivalence, biosimilars, obesity, men’s sexual health, ophthalmic and gastro-intestinal studies.