In this video interview, James Cheong, senior vice president of Asia Pacific at Precision for Medicine, outlines why faster recruitment, local data requirements for registration, and lower costs make APAC attractive for global Phase III programs.
Commentary|Articles|November 12, 2026
Why APAC Clinical Trial Sites Deserve a Second Look: Q&A with James Cheong, Precision for Medicine
Author(s)James Cheong, Andy Studna, Senior Editor
In this Q&A, James Cheong, senior vice president of Asia Pacific at Precision for Medicine, discusses why outdated perceptions of APAC sites persist among smaller biotechs, how China’s regulatory reforms have reshaped Phase III startup timelines, and what first-time sponsors need to get right in the region.
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For many smaller biotechs, assumptions about Asia Pacific (APAC) clinical trial sites were formed years ago, when startup timelines were long and the region was newer to global development. Regulatory reform, FDA inspection data, and recruitment performance now tell a different story, and sponsors working from outdated experience risk overlooking a region large pharma has already integrated into its global programs.
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