PPD opens offices in Manila, Philippines and India

Wilmington, Feb 19 (ANI/Business Wire India): PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) has announced the opening of offices in Manila, Philippines, and Bangalore, India, expanding its Phase II-IV clinical development services in response to growing client demand in Asia Pacific. PPD will provide clinical management services in key therapeutic areas from both locations.

The offices strengthen PPD's full range of drug discovery and development services and continue to position the company to capitalize on the tremendous growth of the outsourcing market in Asia Pacific. PPD recently expanded in this region through its acquisitions of Excel, the market leader and one of the largest contract research organizations in China, and BioDuro, a drug discovery outsourcing company.

"With 90 million people living in the Philippines and more than 20 million in Manila, there is enthusiasm for local expansion and involvement in clinical trials," said Lesley Gerrard, director of clinical management in PPD's Melbourne, Australia, office. "The recent opening of the Manila office demonstrates PPD's commitment to the growth and development of emerging markets in Southeast Asia and to further exploration of the opportunities that exist within this region."

Denzel Benjamin, director of clinical management in PPD's Bangalore office, added, "India is expected to conduct nearly five percent of global trials by 2010, and the opening of our Bangalore office advances our plans for expansion in India. This office provides us easy access to all of our sites across south India, which means cost savings for our clients and greater efficiencies for PPD."

The Manila office is located at Units 8 and 9, Alpha Building, UP-AyalaLand TechnoHub, Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City, Philippines 1121. The Bangalore office is at Pine Valley, Stylus Office, Embassy Golf-Links Business Park, Bangalore, India, 560071.

PPD is a leading global contract research organization, celebrating 25 years of advancing drug development. We provide discovery, development and post-approval services as well as compound partnering programs. (ANI)