At a time when drug makers around the world come in hordes to Indian shores to conduct human trials for their prospective therapies, clinical research firms (CROs) from the country are increasingly moving overseas. At least half a dozen Indian CROs have either acquired a facility or set up shop in a capital abroad in recent months. And many more are reportedly in the look-out.Obviously, it works in both ways when industries globalize. But beyond the obvious, it looks like there are other compelling reasons that make this wanderlust too irresistible for Indian CROs.

Even though the origins of Indian CRO industry can be traced back nearly a decade, it actually started to grow in double-digit figures only in the last few years. The number of CROs engaged in late phase studies almost doubled a year ago. CROs engaged only in bioequivalence studies also number as much. Figure show that more than 660 studies are being run in India, involving more than 1,700 sites, largely comprising Phases II and III. Despite the industry’s touted rapid growth rally — CAGR of about 36% — CROs from India grab only a very small percentage of  $18 billion global CRO market.