announced the opening of its expanded research facility in London, UK, designed to increase Phase I capacity and extend its ability to drive progress in translational medicine. The facility is housed on the 14th floor of Guy's Hospital, adjacent to a Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

With capacity for 35 patients and healthy volunteers, the extension brings the total number of Phase I beds in London to 105 and globally to 385. This is expected to increase further in late 2010, with the opening of a Phase I unit in Hyderabad, India, initially with 50 beds, and with capacity for expansion to 100.

“Declining productivity in research and development means that the biopharmaceutical industry is under intense pressure to increase efficiency and overcome complexity,” explains Eddie Caffrey, Senior Vice President, Global Phase I at Quintiles.

“Effective early-stage development can have significant impact on speed and cost of the overall development process. Our customers need a holistic solution that combines fast and cost-efficient regulatory studies with advanced scientific expertise and techniques such as modeling and simulation, biomarkers and microdosing for more complex studies."