Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced today it has broken ground on a $17 million facility in Ahmadabad, India, to support demand for biopharma services in that country. The facility will focus on packaging, global distribution and logistics management of regulated pharmaceutical samples to patients participating in clinical trials across the globe. It will complement existing clinical services operations in the US, Europe and Asia. The company said it expects to open the new 100,000-square-foot facility by spring 2008 and to add about 100 employees in the first year of operation. "Large pharmaceutical companies are focusing more and more on India for their future clinical research and development programs," said Marijn E. Dekkers, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "They are looking to outsource their clinical trials management to partners who know how to work within changing regional and global clinical trial regulations. By expanding our capacity to serve the needs of both multinational and local pharmaceutical companies, we will be able to bring a higher level of technology, quality and expertise to facilitate clinical trials." Thermo Fisher Scientific recently acquired Qualigens Fine Chemicals, a former division of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GSK India) based in Mumbai. It also has demonstration laboratory in Mumbai. The company, based in Waltham, Mass., makes analytical instruments, laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents.