US-based contract research organisation (CRO) QPS Holdings continues to tap into early-phase expertise in Asia, announcing the acquisition of the Center of Toxicology and Preclinical Sciences (CTPS) from Taiwan’s Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), a non-profit organisation that formed a strategic alliance with QPS in July 2009.

No financial details were released on the deal, under which the Taipei-located CTPS will become a division of QPS-Taiwan, already established in the capital city. Just last month, QPS took a majority stake in Bioserve Clinical Research, a full-service Phase I CRO based in Hyderabad, India.

A 5,600 sq m facility incorporating seven laboratories, three culture rooms, a quality assurance unit, archives and two floors of animal housing, CTPS specialises in general non-clinical toxicity and safety testing as well as genetic toxicology, reproductive toxicology, immunotoxicity testing, biocompatibility testing and DMPK (drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics) studies. 

Over the past 12 years, DCB has conducted more than 890 studies for local and international clients, including 17 projects for US investigational new drug (IND) submissions, 18 projects for Taiwan IND filings or clinical trials, and two studies involving new drug applications for approval in Taiwan, QPS noted.

“The biotech industry in the Asia Pacific region is expanding rapidly,” commented Vincent Yen, president and chief executive officer of QPS-Taiwan.

“With the addition of a well-known toxicology unit to our established bioanalytical and pharmacokinetic expertise, QPS can now provide a one-stop solution to the increasing local and international demand for high quality preclinical services.”