MDS Pharma Services, the CRO division of MDS, is undertaking a major renovation and expansion of its discovery operation in Taiwan as part of the company's recently announced plan to focus on early-stage clinical research.

MDS is doubling its capacity for in vivo safety and efficacy testing and improve its molecular screening and profiling capabilities at the Taiwan site. The project will be completed in 2010.

The Taiwan facility is part of MDS Pharma Services' Pharmacology/DMPK  service line, which offers molecular, cellular, ADME/DMPK and in vivo assays for drug development. The Taiwan site offers capabilities in molecular and cellular pharmacology, including more than 800 assays, multiple assay methodologies, high-throughput screening with robotic automation, and expert assay development.

"This new and expanded facility will cement our position as the global leader in the discovery pharmacology space, where we are one of the top two providers of molecular screening, and a key supplied of in vivo efficacy and safety testing," said MDS Pharma Services president David Spaight in a company statement.

MDS recently entered into deal with INC Research to sell off MDS Pharma's phase II through IV contract research business for $50 million. As part of that acquisition (expected to close in July), MDS announced that it would focus its Pharma Services unit on discovery through phase IIa proof-of-concept services.