To address the growing global demand for clinical services, Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the official opening of its new state-of-the-art GMP1 standard facility in South Korea. Strategically located in Seoul, the new site will provide local, regional and global pharmaceutical and biotech companies with a one-stop service for clinical supplies—from cGMP storage, local labelling, secondary packaging, comparator sourcing, handling and distribution of ambient and cold chain supplies to clinical site returns management.

A supportive government, modern infrastructure and an easily accessible patient population are helping this Asian nation become a top location for clinical trial research. Over the past few years, clinical trials have consistently grown in South Korea, and with an increased number of core clinical trial sites certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), formerly known as the KFDA, South Korea boasts the second highest number of approved clinical trial sites globally, making it a leading emerging nation for clinical trial research in Asia. In addition, South Korean R&D pharmaceutical companies have demonstrated a strong passion for innovative drug development resulting in a robust industry contributing to therapeutic healthcare developments at local and global levels.

“Thermo Fisher Scientific was established in South Korea in 1994, and over the past 22 years our goal has been to invest in local infrastructure and presence to better support the market specific needs of our customers,” said Tony Acciarito, vice president and general manager of Thermo Fisher South Korea. “Now, with over 430 employees across the organization, the new facility represents another step towards this goal which is aligned to our company Mission to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.”

“Asia Pacific continues to be our fastest-growing market and a central contributor to our growth,” said Leon Wyszkowski, Thermo Fisher’s vice president of clinical services for North America and facility network. “In September 2015 we opened a new facility in Singapore to serve as a central hub for our Asia Pacific region, which complements our clinical services facilities in Beijing and Suzhou, China; Tokyo, Japan and Ahmedabad, India. The opening of this new facility in South Korea is testament to our commitment to continue investing in the region as we build on the expertise of our local teams to strengthen our regional and global presence in the clinical supplies industry.”