BOI okays P5.1-M R&D project of chemical firm

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the P5.1-million clinical research and development project of Rainiers Contract Research Services Inc.

The company has put up a facility in San Juan City for clinical trials and analysis of pharmaceutical products. It started commercial operation last May with 16 workers.

The company will determine the safety and effectiveness of medicines, devices, diagnostic products, and treatment regimen.

It will also offer other services such as designing and analyzing random clinical trials or epidemiology; providing technical expertise in developing trial design, and sample size among others or biostatistics; data management; clinical trial and observational study management; technical writing; and regulatory assistance.

Research and development is listed as a preferred activity in the country’s Investment Promotions Plan (IPP) 2011.

Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the investment would help strengthen clinical research in the country and provide jobs for local scientists.

He said investment in clinical research and development are expected to address the migration of Filipino medical workers to Western countries.

Data from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed that the number of Filipino workers in science and technology - mostly nurses and midwives- who have gone abroad rose 148 percent between 2008 and 2009.

Clinical research and trial activities particularly in diabetes, psychiatry, oncology, and respiratory trials have been growing in the Philippines over the last five years, according to the BOI.