Avance Clinical teams with hospital trial sites in Taiwan

Avance Clinical has signed deals with four trial sites in Taiwan, citing a desire to cater for US biotechnology firms seeking to run studies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The trial sites include the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Medical University, China Medical University Hospital, and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.

The deals — financial terms not provided — build Avance’s presence in an in-demand trial hub, according to Avance Clinical’s vice president of global project delivery, Joe Taouk.

“Taiwan is recognized for its advanced healthcare infrastructure, highly skilled research teams, and regulatory efficiency, making it an attractive destination for clinical trials,” he said.

“By partnering with these leading Taiwanese institutions, we are further strengthening our ability to support biotech sponsors in executing high-quality, efficient clinical trials with access to diverse patient populations.”

The sites offer Avance’s customers a range of capabilities. The Taichung Veterans General Hospital, for example, is “a leader in advanced CAR-T cell immunotherapy, ranking second in Taiwan for the number of treated cases.”

In contrast, the China Medical University Hospital, which is located at the Northern-most tip of the island nation, focuses on the provision of capacity for early-phase studies.

In March, Avance set up an office in Taipei citing Taiwan’s diverse patient population, track record of producing FDA- and EMA-accepted clinical trial data, and established site networks as motivations.

Expansion strategy

Avance’s latest agreements align with its strategic expansion efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, building upon a series of partnerships forged in recent years. In November, for example, it signed deals in South Korea with CHA University Bundang Medical Center; Korea University Medicine Center in Seoul; and Dong-A University Hospital, Clinical Trial Center in Busan.

Unsplash/Timo Volz