Synexus on course in South Africa as New Pretoria Research Centre opens
Synexus has completed the first phase of its South African expansion programme with the opening of its new research centre in Pretoria adjacent to its existing premises. This follows the news in October 2008 of its intention to double clinical trial capacity in that country.
The new 562 sq metres walk in centre for outpatients, where clinical trials for phases II, III and IV is already conducted, is extremely well appointed with excellent facilities so that patients will benefit not only from a modern environment but also comfortable, relaxing surroundings with TV entertainment and refreshments whilst in the care of a highly professional team.
Later this year, Synexus, which is a global leader in the recruitment of patients to its own research centres, will open two further purpose designed sites in Mamelodi and Soshanguve, outside Pretoria. When fully operational the new centres in South Africa will be run by a team of more than 25 GCP (Good Clinical Practice) trained doctors, nurses and site staff, supported by the Synexus site management model.
The new centres are in addition to Synexus’s existing South African research centre, which has a 36-bed phase, I and IIa clinical trials unit with a well-established record for delivering high quality trials on time. All the centres will benefit from the use of new, state of the art equipment including a DXA scanner and digital x-ray facilities.
Dr Sanet Aspinall, South Africa country manager said that Synexus is very positive about progress on their new clinical trial centres along with its existing affiliated sites and is looking forward to the continuing expansion of its business in this increasingly important market: “We are involved in a wide variety of therapeutic areas here including vaccines (paediatric and adult), osteoporosis and pain studies. The increase in our capacity with the new research centre opened in Pretoria, and the others following on shortly, means that we can continue to meet the growing demand from our pharma and CRO clients.”
Synexus has enjoyed considerable success with it’s clinical trials business in South Africa and CEO Michael Fort is keen not only to maintain this but also to see it increase: ”South Africa is one of our most successful areas of operation with a professional medical community and a large patient population. We are continuing to see very positive enquiry levels for future trials.”
Synexus has four major trials underway in South Africa, all part of wider international studies and more than thirty local phase I to III trials.
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Synexus® background
Synexus® headquartered in Manchester, England, is the world’s largest multi-national company dedicated to the recruitment and running of clinical trials by full time GCP trained investigators at its own clinical trial sites.
Synexus® recruits participants for clinical trials on behalf of its pharmaceutical, biotech and CRO clients. The clinical trials are then run and managed by Synexus® at its own 16 research centres across the UK, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, India and South Africa.
Synexus® currently has more than ten thousand patients enrolled in clinical trials.