Seoul National University Bundang Hospital has become the fifth local hospital to join Sanofi-Aventis Korea’s Premier Partnership, the hospital said Wednesday.

Sanofi's Premier Network is a network program of international clinical trial centers aimed at improving the efficiency of clinical trials. The clinical research partnership aims to help accelerate research and development that will address the medical need of patients. Korea became the first country to join the network in the Asia-Pacific region in September 2012.

“Our hospital believes that the research capacity of SNUBH, which has excellent researchers and infrastructure and has achieved steady results in various therapeutic fields, has accumulated trust both domestically and internationally," said Kim Jee-hyun, director for SNUBH’s Clinical Trials Center. “Through this alliance, we will rapidly develop innovative medicines better suited to the Korean people as well as attracting global clinical trials.”

Sanofi-Aventis Korea praised SNUBH’s clinical trial abilities.

“This MoU was made possible as the clinical testing capacities of Korean hospitals are renowned worldwide,” Sanofi-Aventis Korea CEO Bae Kyung-eun said. “The agreement will contribute to fostering Korea's biopharmaceutical industry by expanding the industry through clinical development cooperation and promoting new drug-developing capability.”

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