CWWeekly February 18th 2008 Issue

Top News

ICON Acquires Phase I Unit in Texas

Dublin, Ireland-based ICON made its move into the U.S. phase I market with its acquisition of Healthcare Discoveries, a San Antonio, Texas-based 40,000-square-foot, 85-bed clinical pharmacology unit. The company, owned by Catalyst Pharma Group, was purchased by ICON for $12 million in cash and performance payments of up to $10 million to be paid by the end of 2008. The buy will more than double ICON’s total phase I capability and expand its services across the Atlantic. ICON already operates an 80-bed, full-service pharmacology unit in Manchester, England.

Chiltern Buys Second Phase I Unit in UK

London-based contract research organization (CRO) Chiltern acquired Drug Development Solutions (DDS), a phase I facility based in Dundee, Scotland. The 45-bed unit is located at the Hospital and Medical School. Including the company’s facility in Slough, Chiltern now has a total of 72 beds in its phase I division.

Other breaking news...      

• KCR acquires Dux Consulting...
• Quintiles central laboratory in India receives CAP certification...

Company Profile: An interview with Vijai Kumar, M.D., president and chief medical officer, Excel Life Sciences

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