Mitsui to Take Stake in S'pore Drug Development Support Firm

Tokyo, Jan. 14 (Jiji Press)--Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co.
<8031> said Thursday it will acquire an equity stake in a Singapore firm
that helps pharmaceutical makers develop drugs.

Mitsui will spend around 400 million yen to take a stake of nearly
50 pct in Gleneagles CRC Pte. by buying new shares later this month.
Gleneagles CRC is a unit of Singapore's Parkway Holdings Ltd.,
which operates Asia's largest network of medical facilities.
Gleneagles CRC manages and analyzes data obtained through clinical
trials on contract with U.S. and European pharmaceuticals companies.
The company operates in Singapore, China and five other
Asia-Pacific countries.
Mitsui plans to help Gleneagles CRC expand operations in the
region.