LONDON, August 26 /PRNewswire/ --

IDIS, the world leader in the development and implementation of pre-launch Named Patient Programmes (NPPs), announces the opening of a new regional office in Iselin, New Jersey, USA. This office places IDIS in a stronger position to support US based pharmaceutical companies in the implementation of programmes to support early access of their medicines.

NPPs provide drug developers across the world with a legal and ethical way to make medicines available where appropriate, in response to requests made by physicians, when those medicines are not yet approved in their country or in late-stage clinical trials. The programmes that IDIS establishes in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies must adhere to the strict regulatory guidelines of the country from which the request originates to allow patients, who have a genuine unmet medical need, with access to potentially life-saving medicines.

The Iselin office will be headed by John Lagus, Vice President of Business & Corporate Development, IDIS, who is leading the expansion of IDIS in the US.

John Lagus said: "This expansion is critical for building our presence in the US for all our global partners, as well as providing proximity to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies based in the US. This new office demonstrates IDIS' commitment to our clients, who requested we establish a US presence, and helps the business to further deliver global market access for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry through named patient programmes, as well as comparator drug sourcing."

In support of companies sponsoring comparative effectiveness clinical trials, IDIS has built expertise in the strategy for and the procurement of comparator drugs. IDIS has a dedicated procurement team that is focused exclusively on identifying reputable sources for comparator drugs from around the world, achieved as a result of extensive and long-running relationships with drug manufacturers.

About IDIS ...

Founded in the UK in 1987, IDIS expanded into Europe six years later, with US pharmaceutical and biotechnology strategic partners established in the last 10 years. IDIS is the world leader in the development and implementation of NPPs.

IDIS is headquartered near central London. Visit the IDIS website at www.idispharma.com.

For further information on ...

... IDIS, named patient programmes and comparator drug sourcing contact Neil Crump or Chiara Charkham at Aurora on tel: +44(0)20-7424-7940 or email: neil@auroracomms.com / chiara@auroracomms.com.

Media background information and images of John Lagus, Vice President of Business & Corporate Development, IDIS, are available.

Web site: http://www.idispharma.com

Neil Crump, neil@auroracomms.com, or Chiara Charkham, chiara@auroracomms.com, both of Aurora, +44(0)20-7424-7940