2018 Biotechnology Awards

22 GHP / Biotechnology Awards 2018 , Established in 2007, today GRS operates at the forefront of technology in the life science industry specialising in new and upcoming regulations. Greer explores how the firm rose from humble beginnings to become a driving force in this vital market. “When we created GRS 10 years ago, we identified the need for life science companies to have access to a consultancy with a truly global reach. Just a decade ago companies were still focusing on Europe and the US as their only key target markets and completely overlooking the rest of the world. We knew that very soon they would be developing global strategies and it would be critical for them to obtain on-the-ground, country-specific regulatory knowledge, and as such we created GRS to meet this need.” Since inception the firm has flourished, and we are now a successful specialist consultancy providing advice and guidance to the global life science sector BI180020 Biotech Regulatory Advisors of the Year 2018 Headquartered in Cambridge (UK), Global Regulatory Services (GRS) is an award winning global consultancy offering a holistic approach to the regulatory and quality compliance requirements of the life science industry. We caught up with Greer Deal to learnmore about the firmand the range of services it has to offer. with a focus on regulatory affairs and quality compliance. It now supports a wide range of clients, from small university start-ups through to multinational corporations, providing each with a bespoke solution tailored to meet their needs. This support would be impossible without GRS’s experienced and dedicated staff, as Greer is eager to emphasise. “Each client we work with is unique, each with their own regulatory hurdles which need to be overcome. The common denominator, however, seems to be that these clients are developing products which don’t fit neatly into any particular regulatory pathway to market. Invariably this means that we are closely involved in developing a company’s strategy to their target market. To support them, we have many ex-regulatory agency employees working with us so they already understand the regulators and therefore, it is easier to match the regulators’ expectations. In addition, our consultants have extensive experience working with their local regulatory authorities and have built up a good working relationship over the years. This has often proved invaluable when guiding our clients through the regulatory maze. “Alongside our in-house staff, we have an established network of reputable independent professionals throughout the world. From the outset we have provided our clients with ‘on the ground’, country-specific knowledge. We have found it invaluable to have these local contacts in order to maximise the chance of a successful outcome in terms of a client’s regulatory strategy and licence submissions. GRS is often described as a ‘company of connections’ which means that anyone who engages GRS will have access to our global network of subject matter experts. It does not matter how complex or unique a product is, we have the expertise within our global network to ensure our clients achieve their goals.” Thanks to its specialist knowledge the firm has achieved exceptional success, and has recently opened a new office in Sweden. Greer discusses why the Nordic region has been a key focus for the firm since it was established. “In September 2017 we opened an office at Medicon Village in Lund, Sweden. Bobby Deal, the Founder and Managing Director of GRS, has had Sweden on his radar ever since the very inception of GRS because he had noticed how Sweden and the Nordic countries as a whole were changing emphasis from the oil industry to the life sciences with many people transferring their oil engineering and scientific skills to biotechnology and companion diagnostics. This willingness to be flexible and adapt to changing demands along with the drive and enthusiasm to be innovative is inspiring. This culture is complementary to what is happening in Cambridge (UK) where GRS is headquartered. To be part of two hotspots for innovation is a privilege and great fun at the same time.” Looking ahead, GRS will continue to build upon its current success and take full advantage of the opportunities that its recently opened Swedish base will offer it to continue providing clients with an innovative, unique approach to regulatory compliance. Company: Global Regulatory Services Limited Contact: Greer Deal Address: Global House, Painters Lane, Sutton, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 2NS, UK Phone: 01223 750638 Web Address: www. globalregulatoryservices.com