The Hindu Business Line : Pfizer short of clinical research staff

Bangalore, Dec. 18 Drug maker Pfizer feels the pinch of quality clinical research professionals for key therapies in the country as it is set to expand the number of trials done here.

There is an explosion of pipeline drugs – new ones that are under development – globally and companies like Pfizer are doing multi-location trials to hit the market quickly.

However, “We’re still to get our hands on experienced professionals in endocrinology, osteoporosis, and metabolic diseases,” Dr John L. LaMattina, Senior VP, Pfizer Inc and President, Pfizer Global Research and Development, said on the sidelines of the launch of Bilcare’s clinical research training centre here.

To tackle quality and manpower shortage issues in clinical research, Pfizer India’s dedicated CR division has started the Academy for Clinical Excellence in a tie up wit the Bombay College of Pharmacy and Suven Pharma. Its CR investment so far amounts to around Rs 63 crore.

Pfizer India, with 2006 sales of over Rs 600 crore, is conducting 44 trials over 143 sites using 1,800 patients “and this will grow,” he said. The number was bigger than 2006 while 2008 would see more trials, exceeding those the company was doing in China.

Key products newly launched or in the pipeline here, he said, are kidney cancer drugs Sutent and Axitinib; HIV/AIDS drug Maraviroc, anxiety disorder drug Lyrica and a drug for diabetic neuropathy.

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