Huclin Research Limited (HRL), a new independent Clinical Research Organization (CRO), will be setting up a hospital chain all over the country with an expected investment of Rs 300 crore as a part of its clinical research programme.

The company, which is in phase one, bio-equivalent and bio-analytical studies in TICEL Bio-Park, Chennai, will invest Rs 15 crore for the second phase expansion to carry out studies from phase two to phase four. It also aims to set up multi centric trial centres across the country within one year. According to informed sources, a hospital chain consisting around 100 small and medium scale hospitals will come up across the country.

HRL will be collaborating with hospitals Tamil Nadu, along with plans to set up hospitals, under the company banner, in a phased manner for reaching the target. Plans are to cover a major portion of Tamil Nadu in the first phase followed by tie-ups and its own hospitals in the four southern states within a period of three years. While the details are under wraps at present, the sources informed that the company is in talks with a Canadian firm to arrange funding for the project, and will take more time to accomplish target.

The company has plans to conduct four phase-one studies a month, for the first year for its domestic clients, while the documents for NABL accreditation, GCP and DCGI approvals would be filed within two months. HRL has also commenced talks with US, European CROs for tie up, to be finalized once the accreditations are ready.

HRL has developed facilities for clinical trial services including the design and conduct of phase I to IV studies, the protocol design and development, optimizing clinical trial design and patient population and a 40-bed hospital facility at TICEL Bio-Park, with an investment of Rs Seven crore, informed the company.

"We are introducing sound risk management principles and processes into the systems and culture to ensure highest quality. We believe in setting standards par excellence in conformance with the international regulatory guidelines and requirements. All our clinical research services are focused on delivering "Better and safer" products for the benefit of mankind," Dr Mahalingam Vasudevan, Executive Director, HRL maintained in a press release announcing the launching of the CRO.

HRL expects a business of Rs 12 crores in the first year of operation. The company, with a staff strength of 30 experts, contemplates to provide project management services such as pharmacovigilance and safety reporting and post marketing surveillance; site management activities; Pharmacokinetics and statistical analysis, medical writing and clinical data management, he added.