Wellquest, the clinical research division of Nicholas Piramal India Limited spread over 10,000 sq ft at the Wellspring Hospital here in Mumbai, has expanded its clinical research facility by adding an additional 52 beds and a 6-bed ICU to undertake clinical trials from Phase I to III.

The new centre was inaugurated by Dr William Haseltine, chairman and chief executive officer of Human Genome Sciences Inc., USA.

Addressing a gathering of invitees in the new section, Dr Satish Bhatia, president, Wellquest praised the efforts of the new centre while claiming that his organization was the first to set up such a professional clinical research organization (CRO) way back in 2000. "The new addition is an effort by Wellquest to continue providing quality services in clinical research to the international pharmaceutical industry", said Dr Bhatia.

According to Dr Bhatia, the new centre has been developed keeping in mind the latest technological advancements that have been made in recent years. Even the infrastructure consists of spacious clinical wards, drug store, phlebotomy stations, archives, sophisticated bio-analytical laboratory and a NABL-accredited central path-lab.

The core team of trained professionals managing the CRO would be assisted by a number of scientific, medical and para-medical personnel totaling to about 65. Further, the user-friendly design of the facility would obviate the need for sending subjects or samples to remote sites for testing, said Dr Bhatia.

Wellquest is NPIL's clinical research division, fully compliant as per international requirements and GCP guidelines of ICH and the code of federal regulations of the US-FDA. Several leading national and international pharma companies who are currently on its list have audited Wellquest. It is the only Indian CRO to have undergone positive facility audits by the UK-MHRA, Brazil-ANVISA and Israel-MOH.

The CRO, recognized by the DCGI has been allowed to now received further incentive from the Government of India to export its services and seek waiver of customs duty for the import of expensive laboratory equipment.