US research firm expands drug development facilities

Why has a global increase in outsourcing of drug development, prompted PPD to invest in it Scottish operations?

By Anna Rooke, OurWorld Editor.

Across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device sectors, companies outsource their drug discovery, development and post-approval services to PPD.

In recent years, PPD has noticed an increase an upward trend in outsourcing throughout these sectors, as companies look to offer innovative treatments more quickly to patients.

"With the biopharmaceutical industry increasingly relying on global outsourcing to speed drug development and reduce costs, demand for our services continues to grow," said Fred Eshelman, chief executive officer of PPD.

“Intellectual and technical resources”

Located in Strathclyde Business Park, PPD currently employs more than 350 staff in Scotland.

Scotland offers both intellectual and technical resources that make it an important hub for our global clinical research operations.

Fred Eshelman

Chief executive officer

PPD

Now it plans to invest up to £15 million to expand its offices in this location over the next three years.

"Scotland offers both intellectual and technical resources that make it an important hub for our global clinical research operations,” said Eshelman.

The company will be recruiting staff in specialist areas such as biostatistics, data management, pharmacovigilance, product development, and clinical trial management and monitoring.

Benefits to wider life sciences sector

PPD’s investment will have a knock-on effect for the Scottish life sciences industry at large, according to Jack Perry, chief executive of business development agency Scottish Enterprise.

"This project represents a highly valuable and very welcome development for the life sciences sector in Scotland.

"The presence of PPD enhances Scotland's international reputation, and we welcome this ‘vote of confidence' in Scotland's capabilities and technological base,” he commented.

PPD's expansion is being supported with a regional grant of £4.5 million.