SIRO Clinpharm, the international contract research organisation (CRO) based in Mumbai, India, has further diversified its Asian presence by launching operations in Malaysia.

The move follows last year’s forays into South Korea and Taiwan through strategic alliances with fellow CROs DreamCIS and Virginia Contract Research Organization, respectively. The first phase of SIRO Clinpharm’s service offerings in Malaysia will include clinical monitoring and project management activities.

Besides “advantages common to other Asian countries”, the particular attraction of Malaysia was a “robust” regulatory framework with “compliant timelines”, as well as a strong government commitment to clinical research and modern medical facilities, SIRO Clinpharm notes.

The company says it is one of the first Indian-headquartered CROs to announce operations in Malaysia.

Having launched its Indian business in 1996, SIRO Clinpharm now also has offices in the US, Israel, Germany, the Czech Republic, Greece, Estonia, Romania, Spain and France.

The company is looking at the Philippines and Thailand, among other countries, as possible sites for future expansion in Asia.