Asterand voted one of the best places to work

The survey asked respondents to assess their working environment according to 44 criteria in 11 different categories, including the efficacy of internal communications, quality of research environment, and opportunities for training and development.

In 2008, Asterand ranked number 3 among top ten small companies and top thirty companies, a significant improvement over 2007.

Over 200 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies from the USA and Europe participated in the survey.

This is the fifth year in succession that Asterand has been voted as a best place to work.

Asterand currently employs over 90 employees between its locations in Detroit, Michigan and Royston, England.

Martyn Coombs, CEO of Asterand, commented: "I am extremely proud that Asterand is among the top ten best places to work in the industry.

"The board and management of Asterand believe that people are the single most valuable asset of the company.

"One of our company objectives is to make this a great place to work.

"We are continuously working to motivate and develop each of our employees at both locations.

"Asterand employees are a hard working and talented group of people that deliver high quality human tissue based services and products everyday to pharmaceutical companies all over the world to help them accelerate their drug discovery programmes".

Rebecca Houliston, senior scientist at Asterand commented: "I am proud to be part of a company that truly recognises the importance of developing employees and helps them advance in their career path.

"The management team keeps us well-informed about major changes in the company on a regular basis even though we operate from two different continents.

"I have always felt part of one big team that is working towards the common goal of helping pharmaceutical companies take safer and more effective drugs to the clinic."