In another sign of growing interest in South Korea as a destination of choice for offshoring contract research, ICON has announced a partnership agreement with the Korea National Enterprise for Clinical Trials (KoNECT), aimed at harnessing the potential of the country’s clinical research industry.
Last month, US-based clinical research organisation INC Research opened an office in South Korea, citing a “dramatic increase” in local drug-development opportunities.
ICON, the global provider of outsourced development services with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, will collaborate with KoNECT on a series of educational events for local and multinational pharmaceutical companies, clinical investigators and industry officials.
Designed to “further enhance the already high standards of clinical research in South Korea”, this programme will kick off with an oncology trials seminar in the South Korean capital Seoul on 26 October.
Set up in 2007 with the backing of South Korea’s government, academic institutions and life-science industries, KoNECT provides clinical research resources, training and support, with a long-term vision to establish an advanced clinical trial infrastructure and develop the country’s biopharmaceutical industry as an international hub for clinical trials.
Established presence
ICON has a “well-established” presence in South Korea dating back to 2005 and regards it as “a key country for clinical development”, noted Wei Ming Goh, vice president, Asia-Pacific. The company employs more than 1,400 staff in total across the Asia Pacific region, with locations in 13 countries.
“We are delighted to collaborate with a leading clinical research organisation such as ICON that has a wealth of expertise in both local and global clinical development programmes,” commented KoNECT President, Professor Sang-Goo Shin.
