Novotech opens South African office

Australian CRO Novotech has expanded into South Africa with the opening of a new office in Johannesburg.

The company has been managing clinical trials in South Africa for the past three years through consultants, but will now have a dedicated presence in the market.

Novotech CEO Alek Safarin said the expansion was initially motivated by demand from existing biotechnology sponsors for its services in South Africa.

“HIV and TB are serious health challenges in some South African patient populations, while metabolic diseases common in the USA and Australia such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension are also on the increase,” he said.

As the leading market for clinical trials in Africa, there are currently over 1700 studies registered on the South African Department of Health online registry. This expansion into a new territory is in keeping with our broader strategy of covering emerging markets for our clients.”

With the establishment of the new office, Novotech now has a presence in 11 markets - Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and South Africa.

Sydney-based Novogen was established in 1996 and has grown to become Australia’s largest independent CRO.