New 300-bed facility in Tempe, Arizona, raises MDS capacity in the Phoenix-area to 420 total beds KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Pharma Services (http://www.mdsps.com/), a leading provider of innovative drug discovery and development solutions, has expanded its presence in the Phoenix area with a new 300-bed Phase I facility in nearby Tempe, Arizona. The $25 million facility more than doubles the previous MDS Phase I capacity in Phoenix to 420 total beds to meet the growing needs of its pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Part of an extensive global network of European and North American Phase I locations, the new facility brings the MDS Pharma Services global total to more than 1,100 beds. In addition to a specialized area for conducting cardiac safety trials, the new facility also offers specialized ophthalmic capabilities, as well as a range of other specialty Phase I services. Purpose-built from the ground up to be a Phase I clinic, the new facility has a state-of-the art clinical lab and secure pharmacy, comfortable accommodations for study participants and well-appointed areas for visiting clients. "Client needs were top-of-mind when we decided to expand in Phoenix - the fastest growing urban area in the United States," said MDS Pharma Services President David Spaight. "The Phoenix location offers several advantages to our clients, including travel convenience, access to a large and varied study participant pool, and an experienced and educated workforce to staff the new clinic and laboratory." The workforce for the new facility is drawn from the same experienced team that operated the earlier MDS Pharma Services Phoenix clinic, where they achieved a better than 97% on-time study start-up record. MDS Pharma Services has had a Phase I operation in Phoenix for more than two decades, conducting more than 600 clinical trials involving some 13,000 participants. Its current Phoenix workforce of more than 150 could triple when the new facility is running at full capacity. 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 http://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 http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Pharma Services CONTACT: For Investors: Sharon Mathers, (416) 675-6777 ext. 34721, ; For Media: Charlene McGrady, (610) 239-7900 ext. 231,

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