A hub for Contract Research Organisations
Scotland has a network of over 40 pharmaceutical clinical trials support and contract research organisations (CROs).
Many of the world’s leading CROs have a base in Scotland including Quintiles, Apuit, Charles River Laboratories, PPD Development and Kendle. In total they employ over 2,500 staff.
There are also many specialist CROs, such as Nexus Oncology and Biopta. In addition, Invitrogen has its European base in Scotland. This leading contract service organisation (CSO) focuses on the rapidly growing biologics sector of the pharmaceutical industry.
Depth of clinical research
More medical research is conducted per head of population in Scotland than anywhere else in Europe. In fact, 20 per cent of all the money spent on clinical research in the UK is spent in Scotland.
Because of a high incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, clinicians in Scotland have developed long standing clinical and biomedical expertise. This is complemented by more fundamental research being carried out in the local Universities.
We also have the benefit of a stable well-documented patient population, which is ideal for epidemiology studies. Clinicians in Scotland’s hospitals are world renowned for landmark clinical trials, such as the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS), that have had a significant impact on worldwide medical practice.
Scotland has invested significantly in world class clinical research infrastructure. Thanks to collaboration across the NHS, it’s the ideal location for multi-centred trials. Scotland is ideally placed to conduct clinical trials for medical devices, and those designed for special populations, such as minority and paediatric populations.
Key capabilities in clinical research expertise
Clinical research and contract service companies in Scotland
Some key companies in this sector include:
- Quintiles Transnational
- Aptuit
- PPD Development
- Charles River Laboratories
- Kendle
- Fulcrum Pharma
- Chiltern
- BioReliance (part of Invitrogen)
- Scottish Biomedical
- Endpoint Research
- Nexus Oncology
- Biopta
- Crionna
- Community Pharmacology Services Ltd
- Pleiad
- Alba Science
There are many other specialist suppliers to the life science industry in Scotland.