Accovion, a full-service contract research organisation based in Eschborn (Frankfurt), Germany, has expanded its international reach with new subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Russia.

According to chief operating officer Ivana Waller, Accovion has been pursuing clinical research activities for clients in the Czech Republic and Russia “for some time now”.

The new affiliate offices “help strengthen our base, give us better access to the local clinical research talent and enable us to be even more responsive to our clients’ growing needs”, Waller added.

Dr Jiri Skopek has been appointed managing director of the Czech office in Prague, while Dr Nikolay Odintsov fills that position at the Russian office in Moscow.

Accovion’s strategic plan for 2011 includes “formalising activities in several other European countries by establishing additional subsidiaries”, the company noted.

Its service offering to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries includes study planning and management; clinical monitoring; pharmacovigilance, including post-marketing safety; data management; biostatistics; statistical programming; medical writing; and electronic publishing.

Accovion’s shareholders are the company’s management and senior staff as well as private equity group HeidelbergCapital and venture capital firm Creathor Venture.