MDS Pharma Services' Global Central Lab to launch Apollo

A proprietary web-based study management system

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - MDS Pharma Services,
a leading provider of innovative drug discovery and development solutions,
announced today the launch of its proprietary Apollo study management system
developed for its Global Central Lab business. Designed with valuable input
from clients, Apollo is a unified, web-based study management tool for secure
and transparent tracking of study samples and results. Apollo gives clients
real-time, worldwide access to their study data virtually anywhere, anytime.
The system strengthens the "chain of custody" - from specimen collection
to central lab receipt, to testing and sample storage - further improving the
efficiency and quality of studies managed by MDS Pharma Services. And because
the system is accessible virtually anywhere, anytime, it will enable MDS
Pharma Services to respond quickly to changes in client needs and study
requirements regardless of where the client is or where the work is being
done.
Apollo provides a single interface for all aspects of protocol management,
including protocol specifications, kit building, sample reception and test
ordering, query identification and resolution, customizable results flagging,
report distribution, frozen sample management, data extraction and invoicing.
The experience for clients using Apollo will be consistent whether the work is
being done in MDS sites in China, Singapore, France, Germany, Canada or the
US.
"The Apollo system offers significant benefits to our customers, both in
terms of efficiency and standardization in study management," said MDS Pharma
Services President, David Spaight. "A single, global system with increased
transparency of processes and data across all our sites will help us
consistently deliver on our brand promise of quality, on-time results. And the
Apollo system - which is exclusive to MDS Pharma Services - will help to
redefine the customer experience allowing studies to start on time, run
smoothly and end on time."
Based on input from client surveys, beta testing, and Lean Sigma process
improvement initiatives at MDS Pharma Services, the Apollo system was
specifically designed to provide real-time, worldwide access to data. It
enables single study setup and supports MDS Pharma Services' core
competencies, operating procedures and standards. Built on an Oracle database,
the Apollo system is a truly singular database that replaces multiple legacy
systems and sub-systems, helping to drive improvements in efficiency and
quality across the central laboratory business. Apollo provides for global
standardization of requisitions, reports, kits, barcode labels, as well as
scientific information, and improves the accuracy and speed of sample
reception and processing.
The new system provides client study teams a host of features that enable
greater control over all aspects of the study. These features include:
- A dashboard for high-level overview of a trial, including automated
kit expiry and test cancellation notification, alert/exclusion
reports and query notices regarding pre-programmed escalations.

- Automatic detection of late or missing batch samples, third-party
shipping list templates, automatic recall site notification, recall
of frozen samples from affiliate laboratories and global frozen
sample inventory reports.

- Kit building support, including latest bills of material, kit
component inventories with specific lot numbers and expiry dates and
pre-labeled tubes for delivery to study sites.

About MDS Pharma Services

MDS Pharma Services is committed to delivering quality results on time. We
offer a full spectrum of resources to meet the drug discovery and development
needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With numerous
facilities strategically located around the world, we apply advanced
scientific and technological expertise throughout the drug discovery and
development process - from lead optimization, pre-IND research, early clinical
research (bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis through to global
clinical development (phases IIb-IV), central lab and centralized cardiac
services. For more information, visit our website at www.mdsps.com.
MDS Pharma Services is a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ),
a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and
services that our customers need for the development of drugs and diagnosis
and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical
contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics,
and analytical instruments. MDS has more than 5,500 highly skilled people in
28 countries. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24
hours a day.
SOURCE MDS Pharma Services

For Investors: Sharon Mathers, (416) 675-6777 ext. 4721,
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