- Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the St Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) renews their partnership in maintaining the hospital’s status as a center of excellence in clinical trials.
- The agreement aims to provide continuous support in the research and development of medicines as well as enhance SLMC’s capabilities as an academic research center.
- The innovative partnership is in line with the Novartis commitment to strengthen the country’s clinical research capabilities and enhance Philippine health care.
Quezon City, Manila – Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to renew their partnership in maintaining SLMC’s status as a Center of Excellence in Clinical Trials. The collaboration aims to support the research and development of medicines as well as to enhance SLMC’s capabilities as an internationally recognized Academic Research Center.
“Novartis Healthcare Philippines is pleased to renew our partnership with St. Luke’s Medical Center fully aligned with our mission to discover new ways to improve and extend people’s lives. This partnership is evidence of our strong commitment to strengthen the country’s clinical research capabilities and enhance Philippine health care,” said Dr. Nikolaos Tripodis, President and Managing Director, Novartis Healthcare Philippines.
“As the country’s premier hospital with a strong R&D focus, SLMC is an ideal partner for a research-driven pharmaceutical company like Novartis. Our collaboration combines our organizations’ strengths in clinical research, producing a synergy that drives innovation and excellence,” said Dr. Francis Domingo, Chief Scientific Officer, Novartis Healthcare Philippines.
“The renewal of our partnership with Novartis is in line with our direction to be a prime mover and catalyst in the advancement of medical science through a culture of excellent research,” said Dr. Edgardo Cortez, SLMC President and Chief Executive Officer.
Leveraging its institutionalized R&D process, Novartis has extensive experience in conducting clinical research on a global scale and has one of the pharmaceutical industry’s most respected development pipelines, with more than 200 projects in clinical development, including 145 in the Pharmaceuticals Division (as of April 21, 2016). Many of these projects include the development of new molecular entities, existing products with additional indications and different formulations for marketed products - all could significantly advance treatment standards for patients worldwide.
To date, Novartis has invested over P465 million in clinical trials in the country. Among pharmaceutical companies operating in the Philippines, Novartis currently has the most number of active recruiting trials in cardiovascular medicine with increasing number of pulmonary medicine trials. The Philippine International Clinical Research Operations (ICRO) started its operations in 2008, with the allocation of two clinical trials on hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus. Since then, 38 global trials in Cardiology/Metabolism, Immunology/Dermatology, Respiratory, Established Medicines, and Retina have been conducted in the country, enrolling 2,425 Filipino patients in 215 local sites.
As one of the few private hospitals in the country with a strong R&D focus, global clinical trial capabilities, and internationally trained clinical researchers, SLMC has earned the respect of local and international organizations. It is accredited and certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI) as an Academic Research Center. Established in July 1995, the SLMC Research and Biotechnology Division (RBD) oversees the hospital’s state-of-the-art biomedical research facility, which is the first of its kind in the Philippines.
Under the MOA, Novartis will prioritize SLMC as a site for its clinical research projects that will be conducted in the Philippines while SLMC will consider Novartis as a preferred research partner. Clinical research activities will focus on the following areas: innovative research, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Institutional Review Board capacity building, observational visits to centers with human research protection program in other countries and biotechnology workshops.
Novartis first signed a MOA with SLMC in 2013, establishing the hospital as its first Center of Excellence for Clinical Trials. Other Centers of Excellence supported by Novartis are located in the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center (PHC) and Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP).
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 119,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
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