Having made significant developments within the Japanese market in the past 18 months, following the appointment of Ammon Consulting, an independent agency tasked with making proactive contact with potential new clients, Penn has opened the Tokyo-based office to further cement working relationships with clients in the region. Chris Higgins, Business Development Director at Penn, explains; "Japan is the second largest pharmaceutical market in the world, just behind the United States with approximately 19% of the global market, making it a key area of business for Penn. "This office will not only give us a local presence in Japan, and a regional number for clients to call, but will also help to streamline the commercial process, avoiding the problems often caused by time difference. The move also confirms Penn’s long term commitment to the Japanese market and I am hopeful that it will introduce us to potential new clients and consolidate the relationships with existing customers." Penn has successfully collaborated with several new clients in the region since the end of 2004 in all CMC activities and is also now fully engaged in auditing Japanese manufacturing sites and subsequently importing, packaging and releasing product for clinical studies. Penn Pharmaceutical Services Ltd is a leading provider of outsourced pharmaceutical development services to the international healthcare industry. The company’s core business expertise includes a fully comprehensive product development service, which consists of formulation and analytical development, clinical trial manufacturing, packaging and supply management and extensive contract manufacturing. Penn also offers CMC Consultancy and Qualified Person (QP) Services.