Important factors in selecting a localization provider for the pharmaceutical

June 1, 2012 - PRLog -- The growing economic power, population and consumption of countries like China, India and Brazil mean that there is added pressure on pharmaceutical and medical device firms to ensure they invest in quality localization. But what are the most important factors for these industries when considering localization services?
Both the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries are increasingly looking to emerging economies for growth and expansion. This is a trend among US businesses as developing countries tend to offer enormous market growth opportunities, while domestic markets have slowed down since the global economic crisis.
Although the Americas account for 44.6 percent and 45.9 percent of the pharmaceutical and medical devices markets respectively, the global market for both these sectors is growing rapidly. According to Datamonitor, by 2015 the global pharmaceuticals market will be worth $981 billion while the medical devices sector will have a global value of $370 billion. The figures suggest that it is very much in the interest of companies to ensure they can take a slice of the global market by localizing and translating according to the regulatory requirements for their target countries.  Whether it is an instruction for patients use or medical professional, marketing material, websites and other published information the quality of the localization is imperative due to the regulatory and ethical constraints that may apply.
Localization for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries is different from other types or classic localization as it directly affects a human life.  Regulations are in place to minimize if not eliminate the risks of injury and misuse of products whether it is a regulated drug, a defibrillator or a pacemaker.
Avoiding misinterpretation of information, cultural confusion and inconsistency is important for any business when localizing content.  However, for companies in the life sciences industry this is even more vital. After all, a small mistake or a confused word or phrase could be extremely dangerous to those consuming drugs or operating a medical device.
Many businesses in the life sciences industry require outsourcing the translation and localization processes to a highly experienced translation provider in the field to reduce the risk of errors and the need for time-consuming edits. Employing XML technology and centralizing the process can help firms retain control and consistency over the content and reduce liability in overseeing significant amounts of content in different countries. Centralizing the process and opting for a qualified translation services provider that has met the necessary quality and risk management international standards will help maintain and meet the quality regulatory requirements.
Quality is perhaps the most important element to pharmaceutical and medical devices firms but not the only factor in selecting the right localization partner.  Merrill Brink prides itself on its 30 years of life sciences translation experience, technical expertise, reliability, collaboration, financially stability, and commitment as a partner. Its translation and management professionals have considerable subject matter expertise and the service is backed by five important ISO and EN certifications and registrations.

About Merrill Brink International
Merrill Brink International (www.merrillbrink.com) is a leading provider of complete translation and language solutions for global companies and law firms, with special expertise in serving the legal, financial, life sciences, software, heavy machinery and corporate markets. A proven leader with more than 30 years of experience, Merrill Brink offers a wide range of language solutions including translation, localization, desktop publishing and globalization services.

Merrill Brink is recognized in the industry for its commitment to quality and its pioneering approach of leveraging technology to reduce costs, eliminate redundant processes and accelerate translation life cycles. Merrill Brink is certified to ISO 9001:2008; ISO 27001:2005 and ISO 13485:2003, and registered to EN 15038:2006 and ISO 14971:2007. Together, these standards provide assurance that the most stringent process and quality standards for translation are followed. Merrill Brink International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Corporation.
For more information, please contact Merrill Brink at translations@merrillbrink.com or in the U.S., call 800-688-4400 or in Europe, call 353-(0)91-393000; Web: http://www.merrillbrink.com
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