KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic alliance with IQVIA’s global Early Phase Oncology Network (EPON). 
 
The agreement makes Clinical Research Centre at Sarawak General Hospital the first in Southeast Asia to be part of IQVIA’s prestigious network of globally qualified Phase I oncology sites. CRM, established by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2012, exists to advance Malaysia’s ability to contribute to global health solutions. IQVIA is a leading global provider of contract research services, advanced analytics and technology solutions to the life-sciences industry.
 
“This agreement is a major step forward for the country of Malaysia to provide advanced Phase I studies for investigational cancer therapies,” said CRM Chief Executive Officer Dr Akhmal Yusof.  “Advances in genomics offer new hope for targeted oncology products. Through this agreement, Sarawak General Hospital will join IQVIA’s global Early Phase Oncology Network, which is designed to provide fast, high-quality Phase I oncology studies to biopharmaceutical companies.”
 
IQVIA Asia Pacific President Anand Tharmaratnam said: “This agreement builds upon our long relationship with Clinical Research Malaysia as an IQVIA Prime Site.  Adding Sarawak General Hospital’s research centre gives biopharma companies, for the first time, a Southeast Asia location as part of IQVIA’s global network of high quality early phase oncology research sites.  This is a significant step forward in our joint mission to accelerate the development of targeted oncology therapies in Malaysia and Asia for the benefit of patients worldwide.”
 
IQVIA has been conducting oncology early clinical research in Asia Pacific for more than two decades.  The IQVIA EPON-Clinical Research Malaysia strategic alliance is designed to streamline study startup, enhance consistency, and deliver high-quality results faster.
 
This collaboration is intended significantly improve the quality of early phase oncology trials in Malaysia by having innovative investigational therapies as an option for patients. This aligns with the Phase I Realization Project (P1RP) that was launched by CRM in 2016 which is focused in enhancing Malaysia’s early phase clinical research capacity and building a more attractive early phase clinical research ecosystem.
 
The MoU is signed between Dr Akhmal Yusof and on behalf of IQVIA, Mr. Teck Kwang Koh, General Manager at IQVIA Malaysia. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Director of Network of Clinical Research Centre, YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Goh Pik Pin and Dr Voon Pei Jye of Sarawak General Hospital.
 
About CRM
Established by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2012, CRM exists to advance global health solutions for a brighter, more hopeful future for the people by providing speedy and reliable end-to-end clinical research support for quality studies. CRM’s innate understanding of the local clinical research landscape with the international standards of operations coupled with fundamental backing of the government ministries provide us an incomparable advantage to work with partners from the nascent stages of development to materialisation of the end product, in order to deliver better treatment and high skilled job opportunities.
 
About IQVIA
IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) is a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. Formed through the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles, IQVIA applies human data science — leveraging the analytic rigor and clarity of data science to the ever-expanding scope of human science — to enable companies to reimagine and develop new approaches to clinical development and commercialization, speed innovation and accelerate improvements in healthcare outcomes. Powered by the IQVIA CORE™, IQVIA delivers unique and actionable insights at the intersection of large-scale analytics, transformative technology and extensive domain expertise, as well as execution capabilities. With more than 55,000 employees, IQVIA conducts operations in more than 100 countries. To learn more, visit www.iqvia.com.

 

For photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mk70uv8ncyilpfw/AADsuM8AaY3NR90lAJ1O2_0Ma?dl=0