TranScrip Partners, the specialist provider of biopharmaceutical product-development and life-cycle management services based in Reading, UK, has opened an office in Hong Kong to consolidate its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The new operation, TranScrip Partners Hong Kong Ltd, will be led by James Thorburn, who has over 25 years’ experience in clinical research as well as a successful record of establishing contract research organisations both in the UK and his native Hong Kong, TranScrip Partners announced.

Thorburn helped to set up the Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine. He currently serves as regional director for the Pan Asian Clinical Research Association in Hong Kong. 

In his new role, Thorburn will be supporting TranScrip’s continuing interests in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Chinese and Indian markets, and will work closely with TranScrip Partners Australia, which is already running projects in the region.

The company opened its Australian offices in September 2012; more recently it did the same in the US.

Further expansion into the Asia Pacific region is an “important milestone” in establishing a global presence, one underpinned by “the continuing increase of contracts into this region”, TranScrip Partners said.