It was reported yesterday that QPS, a contract research organization, has expanded its US-based phase one clinical trial capabilities to support the increasing requirements of its pharmaceutical, biotechnology and CRO partners.

Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are purchasing drug compounds that have been developed by small biotech companies up to the point of candidate nomination in order to fill their drug pipelines.

QPS CEO, Benjamin Chien, said, 'We've seen this trend evolve and have expanded our Phase I clinical trial capabilities to better serve the hundreds of smaller companies developing potential new drugs. We have completed more than 150 Phase I trials and this expansion will enable us to support exponentially more sponsors as they progress compounds through proof of concept and First-in-Human trials to the point of candidate nomination. This strategic expansion complements our work with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as our CRO partners, where we have successfully conducted more than 1,300 Phase I-IV clinical trials for drug candidates. Engaging smaller biotechnology companies is key in expanding QPS Phase I capabilities, and these companies don't have large research or clinical pharmacology departments. We appointed Marcelo Gutierrez, PhD, to serve as our director of clinical pharmacology so sponsors can tap into his vast experience working for three well-known pharmaceutical companies. His guidance with respect to the safe translation of drugs into humans, protocol design, and interpretation of preclinical data and results, will be invaluable to sponsors seeking nomination for promising drug compounds.'