Dive Brief:
- U.K.-based Chiltern said Wednesday it had acquired Japanese CRO Integrated Development Associates (IDA) in a move aimed at boosting the multinational's drug development chops in Japan and Asia.
- IDA will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under the name IDA, a Chiltern Company. Current CEO John Willenberger will stay on to head up the unit.
- No financial details for the acquisition were announced.
Dive Insight:
Chiltern has an eye on the growing demand for clinical development services in Asia.
"Japan and Southeast Asia are among the world’s largest and fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets," said Chiltern CEO Jim Esinhart in a prepared statement. "IDA will enable us to grow in the APAC region."
According to the British CRO, IDA has experience in moving drugs through regulatory and development pathways in the Japanese market — a valuable asset for outside firms looking to enter the country.
Additionally, IDA has worked on implementing pan-Asian studies geared to meet both Japanese and global clinical endpoints.
Chiltern may have timed its move into Japan just right. Big Japanese drugmakers like Takeda, Eisaiand Daiichi Sankyo are all in the midst of restructuring their R&D and drug discovery units to one degree or another.
The research company employs roughly 4,300 people across 47 countries and recently opened a new process and technology in Bangalore, India.