QPS, a global full-service GLP/GCP-compliant CRO based in Newark, Del., has acquired a majority interest in JSW Life Sciences, a provider of preclinical and clinical phase II-IV drug development services. The company will be known as QPS JSW.

JSW has developed its reputation over the past 13 years as a specialist in CNS diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, stroke, depression, psychosis and schizophrenia. JSW is a provider of genetically modified organisms for research in CNS diseases and the only company that can combine behavioral analysis (cognition and motoric function), brain neurochemistry and biochemistry as well as quantitative histology and histopathology into preclinical research. In addition, JSW has experience and access to unique biomarker technologies.

The new QPS JSW's pharmacology capabilities open up significant new preclinical areas for QPS' clients, and improve QPS' ability to offer full-service IND-enabling studies. Furthermore, JSW's proprietary "transgenic models business" enhances QPS' overall scientific portfolio in the CNS area, while JSW's clinical division extends QPS The Netherlands' later-stage site-monitoring capability to most of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as providing additional project management capabilities.

"We are all excited about our new partnership with QPS, because QPS offers the maximum of synergies for JSW in terms of their activities in preclinical as well as clinical drug development. We expect to significantly strengthen QPS' research capabilities in the field of neurodegenerative disorders, which are dramatically increasing with increased life expectancy,” said Dr. Manfred Windisch, CEO of JSW Life Sciences. “Integrating JSW with QPS will afford us more global exposure and market competitiveness, and also allow us to offer complete services from preclinical to clinical.”

As of September 1, QPS JSW will be headed by Dr. Jaap Wieling, an industry veteran with a broad range of experience including co-founding and serving as managing director of what is now QPS Netherlands. Windisch of JSW will become CSO of Europe operations for QPS, and will continue to lead as CEO of JSW Clinical Investigations, a joint alliance company with two other CROs.