Indian clinical research company to set-up unit in Kuala Lumpur

New Delhi, July 27 (ANI): The Ahmedabad-based Veeda Clinical Research organization is entering Malaysia's medical sector by setting up its advanced research unit at the Ampang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur by the year-end.

India's fastest-growing clinical research organisation has selected the Ampang Hospital to conduct first phase clinical trials on humans under a quasi-commercial agreement with the Malaysian Health Ministry, The Star Online reports.

It will start off with a state-of-the-art 28-bed facility for Phase I trials, where early trials of new drugs or treatments are done, and also establish an early clinical development unit at the hospital.

"As part of the attractiveness of Malaysia as a site from which to work, we need a number of infrastructural items in place. One of these capabilities is to do the early clinical development of drugs into man. This includes first administration in humans and also early patient studies," said Maurice Cross, group medical director of Veeda.

Veeda has facilities in Belgium, India and the United Kingdom where extensive Phase I and Phase II clinical trials are carried out.

Cross said an important component of the agreement was the development of a pool of Malaysian expertise to conduct such trials.

For instance, it was proposed that a course in clinical trials technology be conducted in a local teaching institution.

"The unit will have technology necessary to conduct clinical trials, including first into man exposure.

"In addition, we will be working on registries of special populations who are of particular interest in clinical research and this includes a population of sterile females and the elderly population," he said. (ANI)