OUTSOURCING COMES WITH BENEFITS, CHALLENGES FOR DEVICE FIRMS

Device firms that send manufacturing operations and clinical trials overseas may save time and money but will also need to exercise more vigilance over their suppliers, experts say.

Devicemakers are increasingly outsourcing their manufacturing and clinical trials to lower labor and production costs, increase efficiency and speed product approval timelines.

One contract research organization, Alquest, said Sept. 18 it was expanding its business to offer customers the option of conducting clinical trials in India. The firm specializes in clinical, regulatory and compliance support services for the device industry.

In addition to allowing firms to control costs, outsourcing to India offers "several key advantages over other regions of the world," according to Darrell DeMello, an executive with Asia Pacific who is heading up Alquest's India team. (http://www.fdanews.com/ddl/33_39/)