PPD expanded its operations in the Asia-Pacific region with the opening of a new office in Manila, Philippines—the company’s first office in the Philippines—and an additional office in India.

PPD said the new facilities will help the contract research organization (CRO) meet increasing client demand for phase II to phase IV services in the Asia-Pac region.

PPD CEO David Grange told CenterWatch last year that Asia-Pacific is a priority growth area for PPD. The company acquired two Chinese companies—CRO Excel and drug discovery outsourcing company BioDuro—in 2009.

"With 90 million people living in the Philippines and more than 20 million in Manila, there is enthusiasm for local expansion and involvement in clinical trials," said Lesley Gerrard, director of clinical management in Melbourne, Australia, in a statement. "The recent opening of the Manila office demonstrates PPD's commitment to the growth and development of emerging markets in Southeast Asia and to further exploration of the opportunities that exist within this region."

Based in Bangalore, the India office is PPD’s third office in that country. The CRO has offices in Mumbai and New Delhi. Mumbai opened in 2004

"India is expected to conduct nearly 5% of global trials by 2010, and the opening of our Bangalore office advances our plans for expansion in India. This office provides us easy access to all of our sites across south India, which means cost savings for our clients and greater efficiencies for PPD," said Denzel Benjamin, director of clinical management in Bangalore, in a statement.