Chennai-based clinical research organization Quest Life Sciences Pvt Ltd has made a strategic acquisition. The company has acquired the assets of Fortis Clinical Research Ltd (FCRL), a division of Fortis Hospitals Group, which is promoted by Mr Malvinder Singh and Mr Shivinder Singh.

Fortis Clinical Research provides clinical research services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and device companies across the globe. The company has accreditations from USFDA, ANVISA, Turkey, UK MHRA, WHO, etc. FCRL has an established Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies centre in Faridabad, India.

FCRL primarily served Ranbaxy for its submissions and approvals. With the complete takeover of Ranbaxy by Sun Pharma, Fortis decided to divest FCRL. With global expertise in clinical trials services, Quest Life Sciences purchased the entire assets of FCRL to expand its presence and services. Quest is setting up a state-of-the-art BA/BE centre in the Special Economic Zone of Kandla, Gujarat, which is likely to be commissioned by June 2015.

Mr T S Jaishankar, Managing Director, Quest Life Sciences P Ltd, Chennai informed BioSpectrum bureau that their present capacity in Chennai is almost fully utilized and the establishment at Kandla has been primarily initiated because of the speed and single window clearance of the Gujarat Government. The construction is nearing completion and hence FCRL acquisition has been at the most opportune time.

Quest Life Sciences offers a full array of clinical trial services, having extensive experience in conducting PK/PD studies. The company offers complete range of ICH GCP compliant services for phase I to IV clinical trials and delivers cost effective, timely research solutions to the pharmaceutical industries worldwide.

Quest Life Sciences have been audited 5 times by USFDA besides MHRA UK, Spanish Govt, AEMPS, MOH Malaysia, etc. Besides Kandla and Chennai, Quest has offices in New Jersey, USA, Moscow and Bangkok.