UAMS opens Arkansas' first lab first drug trials

An open house was hosted on July 20th to display a new laboratory specially designed for making drugs used in clinical trials, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The lab is the only one is Arkansas designed to meet federal Good Manufacturing Practices Requirements, which call for extraordinary measures to prevent contamination of the pharmaceuticals produced inside. Those measures include specially designed floors, walls and ceilings and a host of air controls, from temperature and humidity to air pressure, air flow and cleanliness.

UAMS Bio Ventures was formed a decade ago to help UAMS researchers get their discoveries into the marketplace, whether through licensing agreements or forming start-up companies. In addition to assisting with licensing agreements or forming start up companies. In addition to assisting with licensing of UAMS intellectual property, Bio Ventures has helped numerous start-up companies turn their UAMS-generated products and services into profitable businesses. Its efforts have led to the establishment of companies providing 316 high-skilled jobs, a $15.7 million annual payroll and salaries that average $49,638 a year.