The country's pioneer clinical research organisation, Siro Clinpharm has signed a strategic alliance with Covance Inc, the world's largest drug development services company, to offer drug development services in India. The services being offered by the collaboration would support and enhance the research efforts of the domestic and international biopharmaceutical companies. The company is expec-ted to formally announce this strategic alliance with the international major by the end of this month.

Dr Gautam Daftary, director, Siro, informed Chronicle Pharmabiz that the alliance will bring Covance's exhaustive expertise in drug development and access to global resources to Indian pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. "With this association we are now positioned to address global drug development aspirations of Indian pharmaceutical industry," he said.

Mumbai-based Siro Clinpharm established in 1995, currently has very extensive experience of running ICH complied good clinical practice (GCP) in the local market. The synergy of this experience and Clovance's global resources and expertise is expected to enhance the services of the company in the country, which is growing as a strategically important location for global clinical trials.

Covance Inc, headquartered in New Jersey, has global reach with operations in 18 countries with a total staff strength of 7000 worldwide. Siro, the first and the leading clinical research organisation in India currently conduct trials from phase 2 to phase 4 in various therapeutic areas. The company, which was awarded the first European contract in 1997, is still mostly handling projects of multinational companies.