ethica Clinical Research Inc. Expands its Operations to Latin America: Veritas IRB Establishes Office in Mexico City

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - November 01, 2010) - ethica Clinical Research Inc. ("ethica"), a Contract Research Organization (CRO) headquartered in Montreal, has established operations of its non-profit ethics review division, Veritas IRB, in Mexico City in order to provide ethics review services in Mexico and Central American countries.

Through the expansion of Veritas IRB into Mexico, ethica is solidifying its presence on the global scene and establishing itself as a reference for international ethical clinical research.

Since its inception in 2002, ethica has been an outspoken proponent for the need to improve safeguards for research participants in Canada. Accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) in 2006, ethica remains the only AAHRPP-accredited CRO in the world, and through Veritas IRB, its non-profit division, is still the only Canadian entity to provide AAHRPP-accredited ethics review services.

With the establishment of an ethics board in Mexico City, ethica will extend its human research protection program to Mexico and countries throughout Central America. Veritas IRB Mexico will offer the same services as those delivered from Veritas IRB's Canadian office, and in accordance with the same high ethical standards. ethica is intent on obtaining AAHRPP accreditation for Veritas IRB in Mexico and is working diligently to achieve this objective.

Activities in Mexico are coordinated by Dr. Emma Verastegui, one of the leaders in research ethics in Mexico. Dr. Verastegui has played a key role in the development of standards in research ethics in Mexico having occupied various functions related to the promotion of research ethics including a prominent role as associate director of research ethics for the Mexican National Council of Bioethics.

Dr. Verastegui noted that, "Veritas IRB Mexico has been established in accordance with the highest international ethical standards, and its members are experienced and trained with these values in mind. Additionally, and in accordance with procedures in Canada, Veritas has implemented a training program to reinforce the knowledge of the IRB members in research ethics. The establishment of this review board in Mexico City contributes to the promotion of a culture of research participant protection. Veritas IRB Mexico is committed to becoming an internationally recognized independent review board."

According to Dr. Janice Parente, Founder and President of ethica, "ethica's vision has always been to provide research services under strong ethical framework and this core value is present in all of our company's services and activities, no matter where they are being conducted. While clinical research has globalized and nearly half of the world's clinical trials are now being conducted outside of North America and Western Europe, there is a need to develop a global approach to the oversight of research on humans. We are proud to be playing a pivotal role toward achieving this goal."

About Veritas IRB

Veritas IRB, a non-profit division of ethica Clinical Research Inc., provides ethics review services for studies involving human research participants. ethica is a full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) that conducts and manages ethical clinical research on drugs, biologics, medical devices and natural health products. In 2006, ethica became the first CRO in the world and the first Canadian company to obtain full accreditation by AAHRPP, and received reaccreditation in 2009. ethica has offices in Canada, Mexico and India. For more information, please visit: www.veritasIRB.com and www.ethicaclinical.com.