Singapore: Quintiles has started its first global study involving Indonesia, made possible by an exclusive alliance with Prodia Clinical Laboratory to provide high quality in-country testing of samples from Indonesian patients in clinical trials.

With a population of more than 240 million, Indonesia has been difficult to include in global trials because of requirements that all local samples be tested in-country before samples or data can be exported.

Two things changed that: Prodia's exclusive alliance with Quintiles to test trial samples; and its recent accreditation by the College of American Pathologists, the world's foremost organization dedicated to laboratory quality improvement.

"We have embarked on a new chapter for clinical research in Indonesia with the placement of our first study there using Prodia's CAP-accredited harmonized central laboratory," said Alan Ong, Vice President and General Manager of Quintiles Southeast Asia. "Indonesia is now part of a diabetes study that's expected to enroll about 14,000 patients globally. This is testament to Quintiles' commitment to obtain evidence of the potential benefits of new medicines in patient populations for whom they are intended."

In November 2011, Quintiles announced an exclusive partnership Jakarta-based Prodia Clinical Laboratory, through its sister company Prodia the CRO, giving Quintiles exclusive access to Prodia's central laboratory for a two-year period, beginning with the first study in place.

Endang Hoyaranda, President Director of Prodia Group, said: "Prodia is proud to partner with Quintiles in establishing Indonesia as a regional hub for clinical trials. As the local market leader and only CAP-accredited central laboratory in Indonesia, Prodia is playing a significant role in helping establish Indonesia as a clinical trial center of excellence."
Indonesia's large, ethnically diverse population faces a wide range of infectious and non-communicable diseases, making it a promising location to conduct clinical trials needed to bring new, better medicines to patients in need. Quintiles first opened an office in Indonesia (Jakarta) in 2006.