QPS acquires JSW Life Sciences

QPS acquires JSW Life Sciences, largest independent CRO in Austria

Broadens preclinical and Phase II-IV capabilities and increases Central East European presence

(August 29, 2012; Newark, Delaware, USA and Grambach, Austria); QPS, LLC, a leading full-service GLP/GCP-compliant contract research organization providing testing services to support preclinical and clinical research and development, announced the acquisition of a majority interest in JSW Life Sciences GmbH. JSW provides preclinical and clinical Phase II – IV drug development services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide, and will be known as QPS JSW.

JSW has developed its reputation over the past 13 years as a full service, high quality CRO and the leading specialist in CNS diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, stroke, depression, psychosis and schizophrenia. JSW’s reputation in the CNS field is further enhanced by its capabilities in preclinical efficacy studies including in vitro molecular and cellular analysis. JSW is the leading provider of genetically modified organisms for research in CNS diseases and the only company that can combine behavioral analysis (cognition and motoric function), brain neurochemistry and biochemistry as well as quantitative histology and histopathology into preclinical research. In addition, JSW has experience and access to unique biomarker technologies, owning, for example, the worldwide exclusive license to the A4-assay for A-beta oligomers from Amorfix.

JSW’s clinical operations focus on complete clinical development from Phase II – IV (mono- and multi-centric trials), including project planning, project management, trial monitoring, database management, data analysis, medical writing and regulatory affairs. Its Central and Eastern European (CEE) operations assure JSW’s customers of large patient populations in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, orphan diseases and many other indications.

QPS JSW’s pharmacology capabilities open up significant new preclinical areas for QPS’ clients,and improve QPS’ ability to offer full-service IND-enabling studies. Furthermore, JSW’s proprietary ”transgenic models business” enhances QPS’ overall scientific portfolio in the CNS area, while JSW’s clinical division extends QPS Netherlands’ later-stage site-monitoring capability to most of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as providing additional project management capabilities.

“We are all excited about our new partnership with QPS, because QPS offers the maximum of synergies for JSW in terms of their activities in preclinical as well as clinical drug development. We expect to significantly strengthen QPS’ research capabilities in the field of neurodegenerative disorders, which are dramatically increasing with increased life expectancy. Our specific experience combined with the broad range of services already available from QPS will expedite new drug development at a very high level. We are thrilled to be joining such a capable and experienced group. Integrating JSW with QPS will afford us more global exposure and market competitiveness, and also allow us to offer complete services from preclinical to clinical” says Dr. Manfred Windisch, CEO of JSW Life Sciences.

“This strategic expansion in our preclinical service offerings and Phase II-IV clinical capability represents our fifth cross-border acquisition, thereby pushing QPS further up as a high-quality contract research provider in the ranks of the global CRO business space,” says Ben Chien, CEO of QPS. “Clients all over the world will now have access to an even wider range of the exceptional services they have come to expect from QPS, along with an expanding global footprint. I am pleased and proud of QPS’ past accomplishments and want to underscore that QPS is well-positioned to achieve success and realize its corporate vision of becoming a global leader in contract research.”

As of September 1st, QPS JSW will be headed by Dr. Jaap Wieling, an industry veteran with a broad range of experience including being a co-founder and managing director of what is now QPS Netherlands. Dr. Jaap Wieling will work with JSW founder Dr. Manfred Windisch and JSW’s existing staff to help build a bright future for the combined QPS JSW. Dr. Manfred Windisch of JSW will become Chief Scientific Officer – Europe for QPS, and will continue to lead as CEO of JSW Clinical Investigations – a joint alliance company with two other CROs.

About QPS

QPS provides GLP/GCP-compliant preclinical and clinical research services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide in the areas of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology, Bioanalysis, Translational Medicine, and Early Stage and Phase II-IV Clinical Research. Founded by Dr. Ben Chien in 1995, QPS has Preclinical Testing and Bioanalysis facilities at its Newark, DE headquarters; and facilities in Groningen, the Netherlands; Taipei, Taiwan; and Hyderabad, India. Early-phase clinical facilities are located in Springfield, MO; Taipei, Taiwan; Groningen, the Netherlands; and Hyderabad, India. Business development offices are maintained throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.

About JSW Life Sciences

JSW is highly experienced and established in both preclinical and clinical service areas and specializes in preclinical services for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. JSW has developed its reputation since 1999 as a full service, high quality CRO and the leading specialist in CNS diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, stroke, depression, psychosis and schizophrenia. JSW’s reputation in the CNS field is further enhanced by its capabilities in preclinical efficacy studies including in vitro molecular and cellular analysis, proprietary in vivo transgenic mouse and rat models, and its associated analytics. JSW’s clinical operations focus on complete clinical development from Phase II–IV (mono- and multi-centric trials), including project planning, project management, trial monitoring, database management, data analysis, medical writing and regulatory affairs. Its Central and Eastern European (CEE) operations assure JSW’s customers of large patient populations in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, orphan diseases and many other indications.