Covance Expands Asia-Pacific Presence with Dedicated Central Laboratory in Japan

Covance Inc. and BML Inc. announced today that they have opened the CB Trial Laboratory, a new central trial laboratory in the BML General Laboratory in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture.  Through an exclusive, five-year agreement, this laboratory will be used solely for the testing of clinical trial samples for studies being conducted by Covance in Japan. 

The new central laboratory conducts safety and HbA1C testing.  It uses the same methods, instrumentations, reagents, standards and controls used in Covance’s four other central laboratories (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Geneva, Switzerland; Singapore; and Shanghai, China), to help ensure the highest quality, fully combinable global data for Covance’s clients.

BML is providing a suite of complementary, market-specific client services, including kit customization, local logistics services and on-site logistics training, to meet the unique client needs in the country.  

“We have served the Japanese market for a decade.  Recent efforts by Japanese regulators to reduce drug development timelines have created significant interest among pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials in the country.  Collaborating with BML created the best opportunity to service the growing needs of our clients and to meet the unique requirements of studies in Japan,” said Deborah Tanner, Corporate Senior Vice President and President, Central Laboratory Services and Discovery & Translational Services. 

Covance offers established relationships with local investigators, opinion leaders and regulatory agencies.  Covance has managed clinical trial protocols in Asia Pacific and has central laboratories in Singapore, Shanghai and now in Japan.  The CB Trial Laboratory is a CAP-accredited facility and also has obtained the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) Level 1 certification.