RALEIGH, N.C., April 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRA Health Sciences (PRA), a leading global clinical research organization, is expanding its business in Swansea with the creation of 87 new jobs. The expansion will be supported by £990,060 of business finance from the Welsh Government enabling PRA to grow its local workforce to 280 by December 2017.
This growth follows a recent expansion that saw over 100 new jobs created in PRA's Swansea location, doubling the local workforce. The initial expansion was backed by £1.29m of business finance from the Welsh Government, enabling PRA to grow its Clinical Informatics and Help Desk operations. The 100 new jobs were filled more than a year ahead of schedule. PRA first established a presence in Swansea in 1996 when it initially employed five people.
"We are thankful for the Welsh Government's support and excited about our continued growth in Swansea," said Paul Bunch, PRA Executive Vice President. "We continue to be impressed by the large number of high quality graduates from Welsh universities and the calibre of well-qualified local people who have applied for the newly created positions. These new hires have added tremendous value to our organization and to the success of our operation in Swansea."
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: "I am delighted that PRA is further expanding its operational centre in Swansea creating high skilled, graduate level employment. Life sciences are a strategically important sector of the Welsh economy which makes this latest expansion by PRA - one of the world's top five clinical research organizations - very welcome."
"The expansion follows an increased worldwide demand for their services and the decision to re-invest in Swansea highlights the success of their operation here and the calibre of staff they have been able to recruit locally. It is also a superb endorsement of Wales as a great business location."
Of the 100 new staff employed, 59 graduated from Welsh universities. The new employees allow PRA to meet client needs and provide high quality service offerings.
ABOUT PRA HEALTH SCIENCES
PRA Health Sciences is one of the world's leading global contract research organizations, providing outsourced clinical development services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. At PRA, providing innovative solutions for our clients is what we do. Side-by-side with our clients, we strive to move drug discovery forward, helping them to develop life-saving and life-improving drugs. PRA has more than 11,000 employees working in 80+ countries providing comprehensive clinical development services across all phases. From full service clinical development to the pioneering Embedded Solutions™ model, PRA provides a broad spectrum of solutions that meet the demands of a diverse marketplace. PRA has worked on 100+ marketed drugs across several therapeutic areas and conducted the pivotal or supportive trials that led to FDA and/or international regulatory approval of 50+ such drugs.