  announced  that its subsidiary, PharmaNet Canada, Inc. (PharmaNet) and Maisonneuve-Rosemont  Hospital (HMR) and its Research Center have agreed to collaborate in the conduct of pharmacokinetic studies in patientswith impaired renal function.

At PharmaNet's clinical pharmacology unit in Canada, new drugs are evaluated in Phase I clinical  studies for PharmaNet's clients. Under the current FDA draft guidance, certain of these studies  require the evaluation of drug products in study participants that have impaired renal function.  The collaboration with HMR will provide PharmaNet enhanced access to potential study participants  with mild, moderate, or severe impaired renal function.

"We are very pleased to partner with HMR," commented Riaz Bandali, President, Early Stage Development.  "Demand for the conduct of pharmacokinetic studies in patients with impaired renal function is increasing.  By partnering with HMR we can efficiently conduct  trials in patients with various levels of renal impairment, while assuring the patients' safety and  well-being."

Mr. Bandali added, "We view this partnership with HMR as an important first step in PharmaNet's strategy  to expand our academic expertise and the number of first-in-person and patient studies that we conduct  in hospital settings."