Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) has announced that it has achieved the CEO Cancer Gold Standard reaccreditation from the non-profit CEO Roundtable on Cancer for maintaining a strong commitment to the health of the company employees.

The company said it encourages employee participation in health and wellness programs, including cancer prevention and screening, nutrition coaching and fitness classes, to promote healthy lifestyles and empower employees to take an active role in managing their health.

"PPD is committed to the fight against cancer," said Mr David Simmons, chairman and chief executive officer of PPD. He added, "As a global contract research organization with deep expertise in oncology, we are dedicated to helping biopharmaceutical clients deliver safe treatments to patients more quickly, cost-effectively and with the highest possible quality. We are pleased the CEO Roundtable on Cancer has recognized our efforts in employee health and wellness, and we applaud their worthy mission."

PPD has conducted in excess of 420 hematology and oncology studies in the past five years at more than 23,000 research sites involving greater than 100,000 patients. the company has a global network of more than 8,000 hematology and oncology investigators.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer developed the Gold Standard as an employee wellness framework based on concrete actions for companies to take in five key areas, establishing policies and programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care and participation in clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.