Novotech teams with South Korean hospitals to boost trials business
Australian CRO Novotech has expanded its presence in South Korea by forming a clinical trial-focused strategic partnership with the Wonju Severance Christian Hospital in the capital Seoul.
The partnership – financial terms of which were not disclosed – is designed to “enhance the quality of clinical trials and contribute to the development of cutting-edge therapeutics and improving patient care in the region,” according to Novotech.
Novotech’s managing director for Asia-Pacific, Yooni Kim, said, “Collaboration with outstanding investigators is vital to the success of clinical trials. We look forward to working with the talented research team at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital to drive global clinical trials.
“We also hope this partnership will help extend clinical trial opportunities to a good-quality hospital beyond Seoul to other regions, contributing positively to local communities for patients.”
The partnership fits with the strategy Novotech has followed in South Korea for more than a decade. In 2016, for example, the CRO partnered with Ulsan University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital.
Korea opportunities
The accords are also in keeping with comments by Novotech’s vice president of clinical services, Yooni Kim, who told delegates at a conference last year that South Korea is emerging as a “bubbling clinical research hub” in the Asia-Pacific region.
She highlighted the “attractive” government policies, citing a Korea Health Industry Development Institute’s platform that integrates healthcare data to support clinical trials and match patients with studies as an example.
Kim also pointed to the Samsung Medical Center, which focuses on partnering with AI startups to innovate in fields like data analysis and patient outreach, as a key part of South Korea’s growing clinical trial ecosystem.
And Novotech is not the only Australian CRO looking at opportunities in South Korea.
In November, Melbourne-based Avance Clinical signed deals with the CHA University Bundang Medical Center; the Korea University Medicine center in Seoul; and the Dong-A University Hospital, Clinical Trial Center in Busan.
DepositPhotos/Rateland