LONDON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Chiltern, the global contract research organization, announced today that it has acquired the business of Drug Development Solutions ('DDS'), a leading Phase 1 unit located at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland. Ninewells is one of the United Kingdom's major teaching hospitals. The purchase of DDS supplements Chiltern's Clinical Research Unit in Slough near London.
DDS was founded in 1982 and has completed more than 700 Phase I trials. The unit offers 42 high intensity care beds with the ability to expand these to 60 and has been ISO 9001 certified since 1997. The unit is one of a small number in the United Kingdom that is located within a major hospital that can provide emergency medical services if required. This will allow the unit to attain the higher level of voluntary accreditation available for Phase 1 units from the UK regulator, the MHRA. The unit has special expertise in first in man studies and is a world leader in systemic drug phototoxicity studies in humans.
Glenn Kerkhof, Chiltern's CEO said: "We are very pleased to have acquired DDS. This move allows us to offer leading edge Phase I services to our global client base and supplements our existing Early Phase capability and strong Phase II - IV capacities. The UK has long been a centre of excellence for Early Phase clinical pharmacology and once again offers a stable regulatory environment and internationally competitive approval timelines. We very much look forward to building on DDS' expertise and reputation for excellence in this sector. Chiltern also looks forward to developing its collaboration with Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee Medical School."
Dr Brian Sanderson, CEO and Medical Director of DDS, will continue to lead the Dundee unit and will work closely with Chiltern's existing Clinical Research Unit to build Chiltern's Early Phase service offering.
Brian comments: "Our unit in Dundee offers safe, efficient and high quality Early Phase trials in a teaching hospital setting. The excellent regulatory climate, with approval times of approximately 14-21 days for Phase 1 trials, facilitates the performance of first-in-man studies in the U.K. and our highly experienced hospital-based unit offers best practice in this field. Not only were DDS and Chiltern established in the same year but they also share the same core values and pedigree of excellence in clinical trials. Thus we are delighted to be joining Chiltern today and adding our Phase I expertise to Chiltern's existing Early Phase capacity, global reach and strong clinical service base."
DDS will trade as Chiltern from today.
About Chiltern:
Established in 1982, Chiltern is a leading global Contract Research Organization with extensive experience conducting and staffing international Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials across a broad therapeutic range for a wide variety of clients. Chiltern employs more than 1000 people with 18 offices across the United States, Europe and in India. Chiltern provides services including Early Phase, Global Clinical Development, Late Phase, Biometrics, Medical and Regulatory Affairs and Resourcing Solutions.
Catherine.Lemercier@chiltern.comRichard.Baptista@chiltern.com
CONTACT: Catherine Lemercier of Chiltern International, Inc.,
+1-760-707-5025, fax, +1-760-707-5022, Catherine.Lemercier@chiltern.com; or
Richard Baptista of Chiltern International Ltd., 44 (0) 1753 512 000, fax,
44 (0) 1753 511 116, Richard.Baptista@chiltern.com
Web site: http://www.chiltern.com/
