The Ahmedabad-based Synchron Research Services is setting up a bio-analytics and data management facility at Ahmedabad with an investment of Rs.6 crore. The new facility is expected to be commissioned in August 2007.

As per the US FDA guideline, data management is the key component for the US FDA approval and many of the Indian firms are weak in this area. Dr Shivprakash, chairman and managing director, said "To overcome this problem, we are giving major emphasis to the data management. Currently, we are hiring around 17 research personnel for the new centre."

The company had acquired Innovance, a start up contract research organization, based in Ahmedabad. This acquisition is first of its kind in CRO space in India. The deal was facilitated by Deloitte.

"Synchron is looking for more important acquisitions in South India and other parts of Asia in future to increase our Asian footprint to provide more research offerings to our clients. In the Asian market we expect the acquisition from Hong Kong," he added.

Innovance has built a world-class clinical research facility at Ahmedabad. This acquisition has provided Synchron an additional facility, which offers excellent internationally accepted clinical research services. The new clinical facility is spread over 18,000 sq.ft on a single floor, with three different volunteer housing areas. Also the facility has 14-bed state-of the-art phase I facility.

The other two volunteer housing areas have 32 beds each. These new 80 beds will be in addition to the already existing 90 beds in the on hand facility and 30 beds at Bangkok facility totalling to 200 beds across Asia. This makes Synchron one of the largest Asian CROs.

Synchron BA/BE business has broad based loyal client franchise with repeat business. And with about 75 per cent Europe and USA clients who will only be further assured with this new facility offering international level clinical research facility.

Synchron has also started its operations in Bangkok with 30 beds clinical research facility with analytical capability by joining hands with local investors. The Bangkok facility is called Bio-Innova-Synchron. This is the first CRO in Thailand, which will provide services to the clients wishing to register their products in Thailand.

Synchron provides a broad range of phase I to IV clinical research services, including quality assurance, statistical analysis and data management capabilities, in compliance with GCP, GLP and ICH guidelines. Synchron is expanding in futuristic business areas in dermatology, in vitro technologies and high throughput screening.

Synchron is the first private CRO to be started in India in 1998 and partnered with Parexel, a leading international CRO, in 2006. Synchron has the reputation as a premiere CRO by providing drug development services to domestic and international clients with consistent quality and newer capabilities.