Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai, a joint venture between US-based MPI Research and Chinese company Shanghai Medicilon, is committed to providing Sponsors quality research in an Asian facility that meets worldwide regulatory standards.
In December 2007 two businesses came together for one mission - to meet the growing needs of the multinational pharmaceutical and biotech industries. MPI Research from the US and China's Shanghai Medicilon joined forces to create Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai, a company that provides global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with high-quality preclinical drug discovery and development studies in an Asian facility that meets worldwide regulatory standards.
Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai is meeting the needs of Sponsors around the globe while conducting studies that comply with US FDA Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations. In addition to conducting GLP studies, the company has been recognised as an accredited International Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) facility.
These recent advancements further underscore the company's commitment to providing Sponsors with quality research. A full AAALAC accreditation is a reflection of high standards, accountability and a commitment to animal welfare. This achievement is recognised as a milestone and benchmark for responsible and ethical laboratory animal care, and also sets standards for veterinary medical care, occupational health and safety, and physical plant or HVAC standards that rival or exceed those of many non-accredited Western institutions.
Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai recognises that the implementation of these standards did not come without challenges. It was a top priority to find quality suppliers of animals and animal feed, and the company decided to adjust its launch date for GLP offerings in order to guarantee its Sponsors the topmost quality. The process of finding the right team to bring the company to the highest standards required nearly two years of close collaboration between parent companies Shanghai Medicilon and MPI Research.
A team of five people from the corporate headquarters of MPI Research in Mattawan, Michigan accepted long-term assignments in China and trained local employees on GLP and AAALAC standards for animal care and use. At times, this team was supplemented with more than a dozen people based on scientific focus areas, and also had help from three key players: Dr. Jintao Zhang, CEO, Dr. Mingli Chen, VP of Toxicology, and Dr. Lijie Fu, executive VP of Operations. Dr. Zhang is founder of Shanghai Medicilon Inc. and has extensive experience of both US- and China-based CROs. Originally from China, Dr. Chen, MD, MS, DABT, a board-certified toxicologist with significant pharma and CRO experience in the US, returned to the country to apply her expertise. Dr. Fu, PhD, another national returnee, brings substantial scientific experience, along with experience from other China-based CROs.
With more than 62,000ft² of preclinical research capacity, and a staff of more than 120 dedicated employees, the company takes pride in its state-of-the-art facility that is optimally designed for GLP toxicology, safety and efficacy studies. In addition to these capabilities, the company also offers Sponsors ADME, PK/TK, analytical and bioanalytical services.
Medicilon/MPI Preclinical Research-Shanghai is continually looking for ways to meet the needs of the industry. The company has a dedicated team that provides high quality, timely service to its Sponsors. This team ensures top quality research by modelling their parent companies' use of superior systems, proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) and extensive training programmes, and by employing an active QA staff and recruiting the best talent in the industry.
