Synexus, a U.K.-based site management organization, has expanded its global presence with the acquisition of a specialist clinical trial site close to Cape Town's international airport. This is its fourth dedicated research center in South Africa and brings Synexus’ global site count to 24, with three new centers opened in the last six months.

The new Synexus site in South Africa is the Helderberg Clinical Trials Center, founded in 1994. It now will be known as the Synexus Helderberg Clinical Research Center. Dr. Graham Ellis, the center’s founder, has been appointed medical director and will continue as center manager. Ellis will continue to lead an unchanged investigator and clinical team.

The Helderberg Center has completed over 150 clinical trials (including phase II, III and IV studies). The main areas of experience include diabetes, osteoporosis, COPD, cardiovascular and infectious diseases.

Dr. Christophe Berthoux, CEO of Synexus said, "South Africa provides access to a large patient pool and excellent medical infrastructure, and the training of the medical staff at all levels is of a very high standard. There also is a high public awareness of the benefits of clinical trials, which speeds up recruitment and overcomes the lengthy regulatory process. These are all key factors in ensuring the success of a clinical trial."