Thermo Fisher Scientific Supplies Veeda Clinical Research with Watson LIMS

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, announced today that Veeda Clinical Research has selected its Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS™ to automate its laboratory processes in its Bioanalytical Research facilies in Ahmedabad, India and Oxford, UK. Veeda Clinical Research is an Anglo/Indian CRO with offices in the India, UK, Belgium, Germany, US and France providing cost-effective, timely research solutions and clinical pathology, biomarkers and bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries worldwide.

Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) has been deployed in Veeda CR’s bioanalytical laboratory in India for the analysis of drugs and metabolites for small molecules and in their biomarker and large molecule laboratory in the UK to significantly increase throughput of their laboratory services. Built in 2004 to provide services for small molecule pharmacokinetics, the Indian facility offers method development and validation, various extraction techniques, adaption and re-validation of client assay methods and estimation of drug and/or metabolite in different biological matrices. The UK laboratory offers bespoke Biomarker, large molecule PK, and Immunogenicity assay development, validation and sample analysis on a wide variety of analytical platforms.

Following an upgrade of the laboratory, and on completion of IQ/OQ/PQ, the entire Indian operations are now fully integrated with Watson LIMS, eliminating manual and disparate processes to improve productivity and quality. The UK facility is in the process of validation and is expected to come on line in the near future. By harmonizing and unifying its process onto an integrated enterprise software system, Veeda CR is adopting a similar world class operating environment to that found in its pharmaceutical sponsors’ facilities.

John Allinson, director at Veeda CR explains why Watson LIMS was selected, “Our Indian facility alone tests up to 200 samples per day per instrument and Veeda CR currently has three laboratories around the world which handle 4.5 million samples at present, moving towards 9.0 million samples per year. Watson LIMS allows us to automate a sampling system previously undertaken manually. This has been a significant factor in our use of labor resources and will enable us to increase our capacity.”

He continues, “Veeda CR did not consider other LIMS solutions for this application - Thermo Fisher Scientific provided the most comprehensive system for us with Watson LIMS and it is already recognized globally as the industry Gold Standard and platform of choice in Bioanalytical services. We are already familiar with the advantages of Watson LIMS and recognized that this is a compatible system for the automation of bioanalytical data processes that meets our business requirements and enables Veeda CR to offer a world-class service from our facilities.”

Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager of informatics for Thermo Fisher adds, “Veeda CR operates in a sector subject to strict regulatory compliance and Watson LIMS offers ease of use, online monitoring of activities, extensive training, and a substantial support service to customers. Watson LIMS can be integrated with other enterprise systems and laboratory instruments, and its flexibility will allow Veeda CR the opportunity to expand and upgrade all their systems worldwide in future.”

Watson LIMS is a highly specialized protocol-driven Laboratory Information Management System specifically designed to support DMPK/Bioanalytical studies in drug development. The system was developed with input from major pharmaceutical companies, and its success is a direct result of its ease of use and the high level of service offered to assist in implementation. Watson is installed in 18 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical organizations, and is widely used in leading biotechnology and contract research organizations worldwide.