“Transparent partnerships, will enable emerging biotech and biopharma companies to deliver innovative solutions”

IQVIA has announced the Japan and Asia Pacific (JAPAC) expansion of IQVIA Biotech, a tailored approach to delivering integrated clinical solutions at an accelerated pace. As stated in a recent white paper by IQVIA Biotech, the total pipeline of emerging biopharma (EBP) companies in JAPAC is equivalent to roughly two-thirds of the entire global biopharma industry pipeline.

- Hithaishi C Bhaskar

Dr Senthil Sockalingam,

Head of IQVIA Biotech (Asia Pacific), Singapore

In JAPAC alone, just under 7000 studies were launched by mid- and small-size EBPs between 2016 and 2020. Indeed, the expansion is complemented with IQVIA Biotech’s advanced analytics and technology solutions for clinical research programmes which assist in clinical progress of biologics, drugs, and vaccines. Speaking with BioSpectrum Asia, Dr Senthil Sockalingam, Head of IQVIA Biotech (Asia Pacific), Singapore shares the aspirations and goals of new JAPAC expansion dedicated to biotech and emerging biopharma industries. Edited excerpts;

How significant is the recent expansion to JAPAC and what are the key performance goals?

JAPAC (Asia Pacific and Japan) is an increasingly important location for clinical trials. The region accounts for close to 60 per cent of the world’s population and presents high disease burdens, fast-improving infrastructure, clinical trial recruitment and regulatory efficiencies, globally leading data management innovation, and, increasingly, greater government support of clinical research.

Clinical trial sites set up by biotech and biopharma companies in JAPAC have increased by over 40 per cent each year on average, compared to just 11 per cent across the rest of the world. There are a lot of biotech companies coming to JAPAC to run their clinical programmes and wanting to launch their drugs in the region given the attractive market dynamics. Given the rise of the region and the globalisation of drug development, especially around emerging biopharma (EBPs), it was a good time to launch IQVIA Biotech in JAPAC.