Pharm-Olam International and MB Quest Announces 10th Anniversary in Russia

HOUSTON, TEXAS October 30, 2007. Pharm-Olam International Ltd. (POI), a multi-national, full service CRO to pharmaceutical and biotech industries and MB Quest (MBQ), a member of the POI Group, announces 10 years of helping sponsors conduct clinical research in Russia.

MBQ was founded by Eugene Barg and Dr. Zev Munk, CEO of POI in 1997. "We were one of the first international CROs to work in Russia. We began by managing a few oncology studies in Moscow, and as sponsors learned about all the advantages of conducting research in Russia we expanded into many therapeutic areas across the country", said Barg, President of MBQ and member of POI's executive board, "During the last 10 years our Moscow office experienced tremendous growth and we opened a second office in Novosibirsk to provide sponsors more cost effective coverage of Central and Eastern Russia."

Using the same successful model, MBQ expanded into Russia's neighboring countries of Ukraine and Georgia in 2002, and Belarus in 2005 and established local offices in their capital cities of Kiev (Ukraine), T'blilisi (Georgia), and Minsk (Belarus). "The quality of the data coming from trials in the region has been very good because of the highly dedicated investigators and compliant patients", said Barg, "Russia and its neighbors will continue to play an important role in bringing new drugs to market because their high population and fewer competing studies offer strong growth potential."

The number of internationally sponsored clinical trials in Russia grew from just over 100 in 2000 to over 300 in 2006. The U.S. FDA began investigator inspections in Russia in 1995 and has conducted 35 investigations since February 2007. While there are fewer inspections to compare Russia to domestic U.S. inspections, the outcomes indicate that Russia has comparable or better compliance.

MBQ which operates in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Belarus is a member of the Pharm-Olam Group.


For further information about conducting trials with Pharm-Olam please contact Iain Gordon, Vice President of Business Development at igordon@pharm-olam.com .

About Pharm-Olam International

Pharm-Olam International is a multi-national contract research organization offering a wide range of comprehensive, clinical research services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. From pre-clinical to Phase IV, POI focuses on delivering the highest quality data, achieving targeted enrollment and meeting projected timelines.