PRA International expands clinical research operations to New Zealand

PRA International, a leading Clinical Research Organization, announces it has established a legal entity and hired staff in New Zealand, which will complement the firm's extensive network of Asia-Pacific operations and partnerships.

PRA can now monitor New Zealand study sites with in-country staff.  This local presence, combined with PRA's continued expansion in the region, further enhances its position as a CRO gateway to the world's most rapidly expanding clinical research environment. New Zealand is a key research location for studies in skin cancer, multiple sclerosis, asthma and several other conditions.

PRA's New Zealand staff will work closely with employees in the PRA Sydney, Australia office. This presents an ideal situation for collaboration, since the countries share similar healthcare and clinical research environments. In addition, companies frequently conduct clinical trials simultaneously across Australia and New Zealand, and their health specialists are linked through joint professional associations and research organizations.

A strategic location for expansion, New Zealand offers the following advantages:

• Traditionally high recruitment rates across major therapeutic areas, such cardiology, respiratory and gastrointestinal
• Efficient regulatory environment
• Counter seasonality (e.g., influenza studies can be commenced/continued through the northern hemisphere spring/summer, and allergy studies through the northern autumn/winter)

"We are very pleased with the expansion to New Zealand," noted Edward Ian, PRA's Senior Director of Operations for Asia-Pacific.  "It continues our expansion in this critical region and is an ideal complement to our operations in Australia."