Quintiles Examines Asia-Pacific Drug Development Landscape in New Report

Quintiles Examines Asia-Pacific Drug Development Landscape in New Report
Noted Experts Explore the Ongoing Challenges and Opportunities for Evolving Region

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As drug makers around the world continue to navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape referred to as the New Health, many companies are flocking to Asia-Pacific for better access to patients, improved operational efficiencies and increasingly, pharmaceutical innovation.

In a new report released today, Ferzaan Engineer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Quintiles India and Anand Tharmaratnam, M.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development for Quintiles Asia-Pacific, provide an in-depth analysis of the Asia-Pacific drug development landscape and its evolution from outsourcing destination to potential pharmaceutical innovation hub of the future.

The report, "Realizing the Promise of Asia-Pacific," explores the history, growth and opportunities of the Asia-Pacific region as part of the larger biopharmaceutical drug development industry. Drs. Engineer and Tharmaratnam examine the region's ongoing transformation and explore some of the key initiatives, characteristics and advantages that they believe will be integral to the overall success of the region in the New Health landscape.

In addition, Engineer and Tharmaratnam provide their perspective on what countries in this emerging region must do in order to realize the full extent of their potential. From advancements in intellectual property protection (IPP), to harmonization of regulatory guidelines to education and disease focus, this report provides unique perspective from two regional industry leaders on the front lines of drug development in Asia-Pacific.

The full report is available for download at www.quintiles.com/perspectives/.

Dr. Tharmaratnam will be providing additional insight on many of the topics outlined in this paper during his keynote presentation at the World Pharma Trials Asia 2010 conference taking place this week at Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore. Tharmaratnam's presentation will begin at 9:05 a.m. on Thursday, March 18.

About the Authors

Ferzaan N. Engineer, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer of Quintiles Research (India) Private Limited. In this role, Dr. Engineer oversees the company's operations in India and has been instrumental in establishing and growing Quintiles' presence in that country to now include more than 1,400 employees in five locations: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

After stints as a college professor and leadership positions with Core Healthcare Limited, Dr. Engineer joined Quintiles in 1997 and successfully established Quintiles as India's first international clinical research organization (CRO). A noted expert in the field of pharmaceutical research, Dr. Engineer has spoken at various international conferences and has had numerous research papers and abstracts published in international journals on a variety of pharmaceutical research topics.

Dr. Engineer earned his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from LM College of Pharmacy in Ahmedabad, India and his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from the College of Pharmacy at the University of South Carolina.

Anand Tharmaratnam, M.D., MRCA, is Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development for Quintiles' Asia-Pacific operations. In this role, Dr. Tharmaratnam has responsibility for the Quintiles clinical business across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, Quintiles has more than 20 offices and employs approximately 3,000 full-time clinical development professionals.

Dr. Tharmaratnam joined Quintiles in 1997 as a Clinical Pharmacologist at Guys Drug Research Unit, having spent the previous five years working in anesthesiology and critical care medicine in London. Since joining Quintiles, Dr. Tharmaratnam has served in a number of leadership roles, including as Medical Director for Quintiles Europe, as well as leadership positions within the company's ECG business and its Japanese operations.

Dr. Tharmaratnam earned his medical degree from University College London, UK, where he specialized in anesthesiology. He is also a member of the Royal College of Anesthetists, UK.

About Quintiles

Quintiles is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical services company offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital solutions worldwide. The Quintiles network of more than 20,000 engaged professionals in 60 countries works with an unwavering commitment to patients, safety and ethics. Quintiles helps biopharmaceutical companies navigate risk and seize opportunities in an environment where change is constant. For more information, please visit www.quintiles.com.