PPD and Bend Research Enter into Collaboration to Offer Comprehensive Formulation Development

PPD and Bend Research Enter into Collaboration to Offer Comprehensive Formulation Development and Analytical Testing Capabilities

WILMINGTON, N.C. & BEND, Ore., Oct 26, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PPD, Inc. and Bend Research, Inc. today announced they have entered into a collaboration in the areas of formulation development, analytical testing and clinical supplies manufacturing to provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a full range of chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) development services.

As part of the collaboration, the two companies will refer potential business opportunities to one another in the areas of compound characterization, particle engineering, formulation development, clinical trial material (CTM) manufacturing, analytical development, stability programs, and GMP release and quality control testing. A key area of collaboration will be inhalation formulation development and particle engineering for drug therapies. The two companies also plan to collaborate on opportunities that involve services provided by each company and to work together on client bids and projects.

Bend Research's strong formulation development and particle engineering expertise will strengthen PPD's ability to provide clients full-service CMC product development solutions. Through the collaboration, Bend Research clients will have access to PPD's state-of-the-art facilities in Madison, Wis., Wayne, Pa., and Athlone, Ireland.

"We continue to see strong global demand for our analytical laboratory services," said Magdalena Mejillano, Ph.D., vice president of cGMP lab services for PPD. "The agreement with Bend Research allows us to expand our preformulation and formulation development expertise, enhance our strong CMC laboratory capabilities and provide clients a more complete offering for small and large molecule testing."

Rod Ray, Ph.D., Bend Research president and CEO, added, "Working with PPD strengthens our position as a leading drug formulation resource for pharmaceutical companies. This collaboration with PPD offers a competitive advantage to biopharmaceutical companies looking for innovative drug delivery technologies."

PPD is a leading global provider of CMC testing across all phases of drug development with services ranging from early characterization and formulation and method development through commercial release and stability. The company offers premier inhalation product analysis from its state-of-the-art cGMP laboratory in Middleton, Wis.; vaccines and biologics testing from Wayne, Pa.; and regulatory services, product licensing and support for marketed products from its facility in Athlone, Ireland.

Bend Research is a leader in drug formulation development and manufacturing technologies and currently works with more than 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide.

PharmSource estimates that biopharmaceutical companies spend more than $9 billion annually on CMC development with even distribution across process/formulation development, analytical development and testing, and the manufacture of clinical trial materials.

About PPD

PPD is a leading global contract research organization, celebrating 25 years of providing drug discovery, development and lifecycle management services. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 42 countries and more than 10,500 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a commitment to quality to help clients and partners accelerate the delivery of safe and effective therapeutics and maximize the returns on their R&D investments. For more information, visit www.ppdi.com.

About Bend Research

For more than 30 years, Bend Research has worked with clients to create value by advancing new medicines and to solve their most difficult scientific and technical problems. This success is based on the company's ability to develop, advance and commercialize pharmaceutical technologies. The firm's innovative drug delivery solutions grow from a solid base of scientific and engineering fundamental understanding.

Bend Research provides formulation and dosage form support, assists in process development and optimization, manufactures clinical trial quantities of drug candidates in its cGMP facility and advances promising drug candidates from conception through commercialization.

The company has more than 175 employees based in four state-of-the-art facilities in Bend, Ore. For more information, visit www.bendresearch.com.