GlaxoSmithKline establishes global drug development support centre with TCS
March 27, 2007

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Tata Consultancy Services have announced an agreement to establish a global drug development support centre in Mumbai to help meet the demands of the growing GSK pipeline.

Under a multi-year multi-million dollar contract agreed by the two companies, TCS will provide a variety of services in clinical research, including clinical data management and clinical submissions support. The partnership will help GSK expand capacity in response to increased efficiency demands, leverage the high-quality talent pool in India, and benefit from cost and process improvements.

The centre will house a TCS team of highly skilled professionals including pharmacologists, PhDs in life sciences, post-graduates in pharmacy, and individuals with a life sciences background who are experienced in clinical-data management and programming. TCS will bring in its strong domain expertise, superior talent management skills, flexible operating models, proven transition capabilities and performance-driven processes.

"This strategic partnership with TCS represents a significant step towards GSK's vision of leveraging key talent globally to develop innovative medicines, said Dr Amber Salzman, senior vice president, development operations, GSK. "GSK has chosen to partner with TCS because of its strong record in knowledge process outsourcing, underpinned by operational excellence. I am confident our collaboration will benefit both partners and, most important, help to deliver new medicines to patients."

GSK, whose presence in India dates from 1924, is the leading research-based pharmaceutical company in the country by sales. The pharmaceuticals business of GSK India employs 2425 people.

Commenting on the partnership, J Rajagopal, executive vice president and global head - life sciences and healthcare, TCS, said: "The engagement with GSK is an endorsement of TCS's strategy to focus on services supporting the drug development processes and the investments made in building our domain competencies in this area. The opportunity to work with GSK will further enhance our capabilities across therapeutic areas and help us build a long term relationship with an acknowledged industry leader."