US-based biopharmaceutical services company Quintiles has further expanded its presence in Africa, complementing its existing offices in South Africa and Ghana with a new site in Nairobi, Kenya.
The focus of the new office will be on endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. Future possibilities include studies addressing areas of growing disease prevalence such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, Quintiles said. A team of local clinical professionals will use the Nairobi office as a base for monitoring clinical trials throughout East Africa.
“Like other non-traditional regions before it, Africa will become an important geography for us to reach large populations of patients for a range of therapy areas including oncology and cardiovascular,” commented Gillian Corken, chief executive officer of Quintiles Africa. “Our experience in Ghana has enabled us to effectively scale across the continent using the same procedures among the local talent and expertise.”
Quintiles opened an office in Accra, Ghana last June, providing a gateway to potentially huge patient populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. As with the Nairobi office, the initial emphasis was on more locally prevalent diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. Quintiles’ established operation in South Africa offers a range of services including clinical activities, regulatory support, partner sites, data management, biostatistics and laboratory services.
With the opening in Nairobi, the company now has offices in 60 countries around the world. “As customers look to improve productivity and efficiency, they will be seeking an ally who can improve productivity and accelerate timelines across a broad range of therapy areas and in multiple geographies,” said Jeff Thomis, president of Core Clinical.
