publication date: Jun 1, 2011
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author/source: Argint International
Argint International
("Argint"), a clinical research organisation based in Central and South-Eastern
Europe, and
Semmelweis University, the oldest
medical school in Hungary, have entered into a strategic partnership. Under the
terms of the agreement, Argint will invest in and assist in the development and
marketing of the Clinical Pharmacology Unit located at 1
st
Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University,
Budapest Hungary.
Argint is entitled to market the Unit as "Argint - Semmelweis Clinical
Pharmacology Unit".
Semmelweis
Clinical Pharmacology Unit (the "Unit") was first accredited for the conduct of
phase I studies by the Hungarian Competent Authority in 2005. The head of the
Unit, Judit Kapocsi
MD, PhD, has more than 20 years experience in conducting phase I and
bioequivalence studies. As the Unit is situated in Budapest, a city with a
population of almost 2 million people, the Unit is able to access large
populations of healthy volunteers for bioequivalence and phase I studies. In
addition, as the Unit is located in the largest medical institution in Hungary,
a wide range of patient populations can be accessed. The 1
st
Department of Internal Medicine has 102 beds, and treats approximately 4500
inpatients and 60,000 outpatients each year. The Unit is also able to utilise
specialised equipment within Semmelweis University to assess and treat
particular indications. The intensive care unit, the dialysis unit and the
central laboratory of Semmelweis University are all located in the same
building as the Clinical Pharmacology Unit.
Professor Miklós
Szathmári, the director of 1
st Department of
Internal Medicine at Semmelweis University, stated: "We decided to expand the
activity of the Unit. After a thorough consultation we think that it is a good
opportunity to collaborate with Argint, which is a well known CRO, and seems to
be a very reliable partner."
Agnes
Pinnel, CEO of Argint International commented: "When we first visited the
Clinical Pharmacology Unit we were immediately impressed by the highly
professional staff, the excellent location of the Unit, the facilities and
equipment available and the wide range of patient populations that can be
accessed. We could also clearly see how each organisation could benefit from
the expertise of the other. We are delighted to have entered into this
partnership with Semmelweis University
and we are confident Argint-Semmelweis CPU will be an asset to companies
looking for assistance with early phase studies."
About Semmelweis University
-
english.sote.hu
Semmelweis
University became an independent
medical school after the Second World War and developed into a university that
teaches medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, health management, and
physical education and sport sciences. Semmelweis
University is the largest health care
institution in Hungary
with over 9,000 employees covering approximately six percent of the health care
needs of the country's population. Semmelweis
University ranks among the most
prestigious Hungarian research institutions, where more than 1,300 staff
members in over 80 departments are involved in R&D activities. Semmelweis
University is widely recognized as one of Europe's
leading centers of medicine and health sciences, combining innovation and a
time-tested tradition in three main areas: education, research and health care.
About
Argint International - www.argintinternational.com
Argint
International Clinical Research and Development Services (Argint) is a
mid-sized, regional CRO based in Central and South Eastern Europe
(CEE/SEE). Argint was established in 2006 by Agnes Pinnel (CEO) and Steve
Dobbin (COO) and has grown to become an organisation of approx. 60 people
working from several offices in CEE/SEE.
Argint
provides feasibility, project management, regulatory, monitoring, Quality
Assurance and training services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Argint
is currently managing and monitoring phase I-IV studies in the following
countries: Bosnia, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech
Republic, Hungary,
Moldova, Poland,
Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia and Slovenia.