Frontage Laboratories digs deeper in China
By Peter Mansell 23 February 2009

Frontage Laboratories, a US-based provider of bio-analytical, preclinical, clinical and drug development services, is deepening its involvement in China by expanding an existing research and development agreement with Beijing Second Pharmaceuticals, the ethical drug division of Beijing Pharmaceutical Group.

The revised agreement gives Frontage a newly constructed, 1,800sq metre R&D centre as well as continued access to Beijing Pharma’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-standard production areas. The company, which describes itself as a US-China contract research organisation, will also collaborate with Beijing Pharma on developing 12 generic drug products over the next three to five years, which will be marketed in China, Europe and the US.

Frontage has been operating in China for three years now, serving both multinational and Chinese pharmaceutical clients, it notes. In 2007, the company helped Beijing Pharma to design, renovate and commission its manufacturing facilities to US Food and Drug Administration and International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) GMP requirements and to build its GMP systems, as well as with employee training and product development.

Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, Frontage has offices in the US, Europe and China.