On Friday, Wilmington-based PPD announced that the company acquired Excel PharmaStudies Inc., one of the largest contract research organizations in China according to a press release.

Excel has about 300 employees, bringing the number of PPD employees in Asia Pacific to more than 750 employees.

With Excel now in PPD’s fold, it expands PPD’s capability to offer Phase II-IV clinical services in China and other Asian countries.

“China is a strong, emerging area for clinical research as evidenced by its 21 percent compounded annual growth rate over the past five years,” said David Grange, CEO of PPD in a press release. “Excel brings an expansive range of services, broad client base and deep regulatory experience, which provide PPD additional capacity and expertise in this growing region.”

PPD is also a platinum sponsor of CHINATRIALS 2009, a large clinical development event in China, being held Nov. 8-10 in Beijing. Simon Britton, PPD’s vice president of clinical development for Asia Pacific, will present at the conference on creating the best clinical strategy for China and East Asia.

Excel was founded in 2000 and provides a range of Phase II-IV clinical services, including regulatory affairs, patient recruitment, protocol design, feasibility studies, good clinical practice training and program management. Excel has worked with many leading biopharmaceutical companies from more than 15 cities throughout China and also operates a vaccine research center and  biometrics center.

PPD opened its Beijing office in 2003, where it provides a broad range of clinical development services. In 2008, it expanded its global central lab services into China through an exclusive agreement with Peking Union Lawke Biomedical Development Limited. In addition to Beijing and Hong Kong, PPD has offices in India, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and Japan and expanded its global central laboratory operations into Singapore this year.