Singapore has enjoyed fast growth in both economic and political power, driven by a combination of a rapidly expanding economy, innovation and a talented workforce. In the life sciences sector, Singapore has attracted research and development by providing incentive programs and being at the forefront of intellectual property protection. As a result, many pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies as well as Clinical Research Organizations now manage their regional operations from Singapore.

1. 22 COVER STORY
TITLE TBC
FOCUS MAGAZINE
January 2014
CAN SINGAPORE BE CONSIDERED A
BIOMEDICAL HUB IN SOUTHEAST ASIA?
Singapore has enjoyed fast growth in both
economic and political power, driven by a
combination of a rapidly expanding eco-
nomy, innovation and a talented workforce.
In the life sciences sector, Singapore has
attracted research and development by
providing incentive programmes and being
at the forefront of intellectual property
protection. As a result, many pharma-
ceutical companies, biotech companies as
well as Clinical Research Organisations
now manage their regional operations
from Singapore.
A robust economy has also enabled the
government to pledge high investments in
R&D activities. Singapore’s sophisticated
transportation and communication infra-
structure, advanced regulatory framework
and local professionals with expertise in
managing regional projects and opera-
tions offer a very favourable environment
for biomedical activities and make it the
place of choice in Southeast Asia.
The Singapore government has also been
playing an important role in investing and
building local clinical research networks
to strengthen therapeutic expertise.
The protection of intellectual property (IP)
is critical for drug development and
Singapore ranks third in the World
Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness
Report 2010 – 2011 in this aspect.
Singapore is reputed for its excellent
clinical research facilities and capabilities.
The country plays a strategic role in
developing Good Clinical Practices in Asia.
Of course, Singapore’s inherent challenge
is a small population of just over five
million.
WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES CLINACTIS
ENJOY AS A NICHE PLAYER IN THIS
INDUSTRY RATHER THAN A
MULTINATIONAL COMPANY?
Global Clinical Research Organisations
(CROs) are large organisations that benefit
from strong infrastructure and apply
international quality standards but they
usually lack understanding of Asia’s
specificities, lack flexibility and have high
costs due to their heavy structure. Unlike
multinational CROs, ClinActis is a regional
CRO exclusively focused on Asia Pacific.
We manage and coordinate multi-country
clinical trials in the region from the
Singapore hub.
ClinActis has very solid expertise in
applying international quality standards to
regional specificities. We have extensive
experience in clinical research and a
proven track record in setting up and
running operations for both CROs and
pharma companies in the Asia Pacific
region.
Moreover, ClinActis is able to provide fair
costs with country-specific rates. Cognizant
of the increasing R&D costs, expiring
patents and pricing pressures in health-
care markets, ClinActis is able to support
sponsors in leveraging the benefits of Asia
Pacific, with lower regional infrastructure
costs, a flexible costing structure, and
regional, country-specific costing.
AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, WHAT WERE
THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES TO
OVERCOME ON YOUR
ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY?
The main challenge for a new player in the
market is obviously to create awareness of
the company and to build scale as rapidly
as possible. As we are privately owned, we
need to ensure that we generate sufficient
cash to fund our own development.
WHAT ARE CLINACTIS’ NEXT STEPS?
So far, ClinActis has successfully proven
the concept of a regional CRO specialised
in Asia Pacific. ClinActis has built a
network of highly experienced clinical
research professionals in the countries
where it is present. We have been able to
win the Asia Pacific leg of global projects
with several international pharma and
biotech companies in different therapeutic
indications, with cost effectiveness and full
satisfaction from our clients, thanks to our
uncompromising approach to quality.
The objective is to now leverage this
potential and step change the company’s
scale. This will be achieved through
enhanced sales and marketing activities to
consolidate the awareness of ClinActis in
the US, Europe and Asia Pacific. ClinActis
will also continue geographical expansion
in the region. F
The Singapore government has also been
playing an important role in investing and
building local clinical research networks
to strengthen therapeutic expertise.
“
”
Singapore, a Biomedical Hub in
Asia Pacific
Interview with Christophe Tournerie, Founder & CEO, ClinActis