Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based CRO Quintiles inked an agreement with Medca Japan, a laboratory testing and nursing care services company based outside Tokyo in Saitama, to use its lab to support clinical trials in the country. Medca Japan’s facility and staff are College of American Pathologists (CAP)-certified and its data will be available on Quintiles’ QNET database. Quintiles stated that Japanese regulations are changing in a positive way and are now allowing pivotal clinical trials to be conducted outside of Japan into the greater Asia region.

The challenge has been finding laboratories in the region that are “harmonized” with the same standards, the company stated. Quintiles now has central lab coverage in the Asia-Pacific region through a network of CAP-certified labs in Beijing, Singapore, Mumbai and now Japan.

Founded in 1974, Medca reported $340 million in revenue in 2007 and is also a medical supply manufacturer and distributor. It is also a leading pharmaceutical importer and seller in the country. The partnership is headed by Alan Ong, vice president and general manager, Quintiles Labs Asia, and Yoh Narimatsu, president, Quintiles Japan.

“We have established excellent systems for providing high-quality central laboratory services based on Quintiles’ global standard. We are determined to continue to increase clinical trials in Japan and provide superior services for our customers through this strategic business alliance,” said Narimatsu.