Pfizer Inc, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, is planning to shift a major chunk of its basic and clinical research data management activity to India.
The global pharma giant, which has already set up the India unit of Pfizer Global Research and Development (PGRD) through its local affiliate, will increase its people strength and resource base in the country in a phased manner.
Pfizer Inc sources told Business Standard that the Indian outfit would become the largest among Pfizer's global data management network after completion of the expansion plan.
However, the sources did not reveal the volume of investment that the company has allocated for the Indian R&D expansion plan.
Currently, PGRD employees 300 people in India for the data management and processing project. The company has an in-house team of 100 people and another 200 dedicated people through two contract research organisations,Siro Clinpharm and Cognizant Technologies. This strength will be almost double in next two to three years.
"The service outsourcing from India will grow further as the company finds significant cost advantage as well as processing skill in the country," sources said.Currently, the total global R&D spend of Pfizer Inc is about $9 billion, which includes data management and processing cost.
The major chunk of the data management budget would be allocated to the Indian operation as India is the only place where the company is making personnel expansion now.
"In other parts of the world, the company has started downsizing this segment," sources added. Currently, Pfizer India's biometrics division has been providing data capture, data management, statistics and programming services for its parent's Phase I, II, III global trials.