Changing environment leads PPD to set up in Japan

The US contract research company PPD has established a new direct presence in Japan. An office in Tokyo will provide Phase II to postmarketing clinical trial management services in response to growing demand in East Asia. There had been a significant increase in multinational studies including sites in Japan, the company said. Contrary to its past image as a slow and expensive place for clinical work, PPD's CEO Fred Eshelman said: "Japan offers competitive timelines for site start-up and patient enrolment, and the government is making major improvements to streamline drug development." These include a project to set up a national network of trial centres.