<DIV>Asia is rapidly emerging as the new hub of clinical research due to the enormous increase in the cost of clinical trials in North America and Western Europe and the stiff competition among the major pharmaceutical players to launch new products globally. Over the last decade, an increased number of clinical trials are being carried out by contract research organizations (CROs) in Asian countries, such as Japan, China, India, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. Good clinical research practice (GCP) has rapidly developed across the region in order to harmonize the global standards to meet the increased demands of clinical research trials and quell lingering concerns about ethics in the Asian region for clinical research trials. Recent changes in US and European regulation and regulatory practices also play a role in the global emphasis on GCP and a renewed basis for ethics.<br><BR>This book is key to addressing the evolution of GCP and ethics in Asia with a view to the developing leadership role Asia is taking on in these important fields for clinical research trials. The book is divided into 10 main chapters covering the top countries in Asia in this sector. Each chapter focuses on background and history of drug development, evolution of GCP and ethics, pharmaceutical industry overview, CRO industry analysis, therapeutic focus in clinical research, opportunities and challenges of conducting clinical research trials for that country and the future outlook. </div>