US–based contract research organisation ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services (RPS) has formed a joint venture company (JVC) with Japanese counterpart Asklep to deliver “leading-edge” R&D outsourcing solutions to the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries in Japan.

No financial details were released on the exclusive collaboration, which the partners said would “leverage RPS’ proprietary structures and global footprint” to deliver customised solutions – including embedded, hybrid, and full-service models – across large, medium-sized, small and virtual organisations.

Alan Morgan, RPS’ chief operating officer, will assume the role of chief executive officer (CEO) for the joint venture, in addition to his current responsibilities.

According to Daniel Perlman, CEO and founder of RPS, the JVC combines RPS’ “innovative approaches to meeting the industry’s needs” with Asklep’s “excellent reputation, significant size and local infrastructure”.

Japan is an important market for clinical development and the joint venture brings “ownership and accountability with mutual success and long-term stability to the benefit of customers”, Perlman added.

Founded in 1992 and based in Tokyo, Japan, Asklep is part of the Intage group, which provides an array of marketing research and business services to Chinese and global clients.

In 2003 Intage integrated all of its contract research operations into Asklep, whose full-service support for drug development includes monitoring, data management, biostatistics and training of clinical research associates.

Market-leading

RPS describes itself as “the market leading global provider of innovative outsourcing clinical development solutions”, offering comprehensive Phase I-IV services tailored to its customers.

Based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, the company also claims to be the fastest growing top 10 global clinical research organisation, with more than 5,000 employees and operations in over 64 countries with proprietary internal structures.